The process of fish production:
1. Fish are bred in small outdoor and indoor breeding pools using natural duplication of environmental factors and other breeding techniques to
stimulate natural reproduction.
2. The ova are transferred to the indoor hatchery, incorporates glass and suspended ‘bag’ tanks to view fry development. The feeding regime incorporating all stages of natural aquatic food.
3. Fingerlings (or young fish to a size of 5cm) are transferred to outdoor nursery pools and tanks or organically fertilised earth ponds for further growth.
4. Fish requiring a longer growing period to maturity or saleable sizes are transferred to the stock ponds in the ‘Circle Tip’ wetland area.
5. Saleable fish are transferred for processing, re-stocking or on site exhibition features.
DIVERSIFICATION AND MARKETING OF CULTURED FRESHWATER SPECIES:
General
To achieve financial and productive sustainability the fish farm must achieve diversification of saleable products. It will need to culture a broad range of freshwater species and market these products within the food, leisure and ornamental industries as well as the exploitation of aquatic waste for greater efficiency in the system.
Food Products:
Aquatic farmed products have been recognised as essential foodstuffs since the early Middle Ages. During this period many freshwater fish, now seldom cooked, would have been as highly prized as trout or salmon.
European and Asian markets already embrace the principle of the utilisation of freshwater species as food fish with carp (Cyprinid species) being extensively consumed.
New markets will be developed and capitalise on new (the Earth Centre cafe) and existing outlets (restaurants, specialist fishmongers and supermarkets) with detailed market research of alternative and historically resurrected species.
Leisure Industry:
Recognising angling as a sporting pastime but promoting the need for controlled restocking of open waters and applied conservation strategies. Liaison with water and angling institutions on a regional and national level will establish markets for quality re-stocking and educational support given to angling institutions who will contribute to environmental debates relating to fish husbandry.
Ornamental Fishkeeping Industry:
There is a growing demand for quality live fish, particularly in the domestic pondkeeping sector and a policy has been adopted to raise standards and educate fishkeepers in correct animal husbandry. There will be a programme to increase awareness to the potential stress placed on fish due to poor environmental conditions and bad handling.
Aquatic Waste Products:
Aquatic waste products in several industrial processes can be utilised. (That is organic fertilisers, fish oils, medicines, etc.). and the identification of substitute eco-friendly products to corresponding markets as alternatives to synthetic substances.
Integrated farming systems identify waste as a positive resource and organically based aquacultural waste utilised for horticulture, agriculture and forestry. The distribution of organic on-site waste will assist production and efficiency at the wider Earth Centre site. and literature both expressive and electronic can be found.
THE CIRCLE TIP SUSTAINABLE WETLAND SITE:
Characteristics:
The underlying land was previously liable to extensive flooding and has over the years been raised with various spoil materials:
An average cross section is as follows:
Top soil 200mm - 300mm
——————————————- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Coal spoil
(sandstone, coal fines, red ash 500mm- 1100 mm
slag, etc..)
—————————————— - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sandy clay greater than 2000mm
Engineering specifications:
The overlying flat scrubland area was excavated with heavy machinery to an average depth of 500mm. The resultant spoil was transferred to create raised islands planted with trees and shrubs. A further 8000m2 of fish stock ponds was dug to an average depth of one metre and seeded with emergent plant species. Tests on the impermeability of coal spoil has indicated a figure of 10-9 m/sec relative to clay at 10 - 11 m/sec Fringed areas were top soiled and left to naturally regenerate.
Biological design:
The United Kingdom is rapidly losing wetland habitats due to land demand, loss of agricultural and commercial exploitation. Even where successful conservation schemes do exist the financial burden of maintenance must be met from dwindling funds. It has been recognised that a well-established wetland is said to be up to 50 times more productive than similar grassland and up to 8 times more productive than a similar area of cultivated land.
This innovative design considers eco-sensitive production and maintenance of conservation wetlands and is used to demonstrate to landowners that ‘conservation does and can pay’.
While recognising the habitat requirements of a variety of plants, birds and animals - a series of fish ponds has been constructed in the wetland. Plants and fish can be sporadically harvested in this system and regular maintenance to the productive areas assists in discouraging the transition of wetland to terrestrial habitats.
METHOD OF CULTIVATION:
The process of fish production is as follows:
1. Fish are bred in small outdoor and indoor breeding pools using natural duplication of environmental factors and other breeding techniques to stimulate natural reproduction.
2. The ova are transferred to the indoor hatchery, incorporates glass and suspended ‘bag’ tanks to view fry development. The feeding regime incorporating all stages of natural aquatic food.
3. Fingerlings (or young fish to a size of 5cm) are transferred to outdoor nursery pools and tanks or organically fertilised earth ponds for further growth.
4. Fish requiring a longer growing period to maturity or saleable sizes are transferred to the stock ponds in the ‘Circle Tip’ wetland area.
5. Saleable fish are transferred for processing, re-stocking or on site exhibition features.
Author:
Stephen Bedford Clark:
Director of Aquatic Ecology & Sustainable Aquaculture:
