Pond culture is a very popular method of aquaculture production in which many aquatic species are grown in ponds. In order to farm fish successfully, fish farmers need to choose the right pond based on the situation, including funding, fish species, transportation, etc.
Earthen pond
Earthen ponds are the closest to the natural habitat of fish (catfish, tilapia) and are mostly built where there is standing water to accommodate fish and give them a feeling similar to their natural habitat. An earthen pond is a man-made dam, a reservoir constructed by digging a hole with a depth of at least 1.5 meters.
Concrete pond
Another type of pond that can be used for raising fish are concrete ponds, which are often used by fish farmers to keep catfish. Concrete ponds are built with bricks, sand and cement to create a container that can hold water and be used to keep fish. Constructing concrete fish ponds requires a higher level of expertise than other types of fish ponds. This is because any mistakes made during construction can lead to leaks, and repairs are expensive. A major advantage of a concrete pond over an earth pond is that it can be built anywhere, including your home.
Tarpaulin pond
This type of pond is common in Nigeria and is usually constructed of wood or galvanized pipe and then properly covered with a tarpaulin. Tarps are a sturdy, thick sheet of polyethylene that can also be made from other substances. It is extremely durable, waterproof and adjustable for covering produce and other items. The quality of the tarpaulin depends on different manufacturers and its quality is measured in GSM (grams per square meter). For commercial fish farming, large capacity tarpaulin tanks are very necessary. If properly maintained and managed, 200 – 520 GSM tarpaulin sheets can be used for small tarpaulin tanks for one to two seasons. Of course, the higher the quality tarpaulin, the higher the price.
Cage pond
This type of pond is usually built in a natural body of water. Fences are fixtures enclosed in open water, made of bamboo or wooden poles and nets that interact with the surrounding environment to prevent the entry of pests and fish that can harm farmed fish. Cages are floating enclosures in water bodies used for fish farming, widely used in commercial aquaculture, demonstrating the possibility of producing different fish species. Cages come in a variety of sizes and shapes and can be constructed from local materials such as bamboo and other inexpensive materials. Cages can be used in freshwater and marine environments with adequate security to prevent losses from high tides and poaching.
Freshwater lakes, outdoor and open ocean saltwater cages are all sites for fish farms. Half of the world’s fish is currently produced through fish farming. However, this approach also has drawbacks, ranging from environmental to disease and safety
Disease
Ponds that are too small or have too many fish can increase the spread of disease. If a fish is infected with an infectious virus, it is likely to spread to other fish on the farm. Fish are susceptible to parasitic infections.
Surroundings
The local environment may suffer as a result of fish farms. For instance, drugs and chemicals used to cure fish might contaminate the soil and water nearby. This might contaminate farmland. Additionally, fish farms generate a lot of sewage, which might harm the environment in the neighborhood. Fish with illnesses have the potential to elude the facility and infect populations in the wild.
Protein efficiency
Many fish raised for food are carnivorous, including catfish and tilapia. They require large amounts of protein to maintain rapid growth and energy needs. Usually, smaller bait fish are mashed into pellets to produce this protein. However, according to the data, it takes five pounds of fishmeal to make one pound of salmon. This is an inefficient conversion rate. It also means wild populations of sardines, mackerel, anchovies and other small fish are targeted, potentially leading to a future collapse of wild populations.
Setup cost
It can be expensive to start a fish farm, particularly in a saltwater setting. Fish growers must take into account containment sites like huge ponds inland or open ocean undersea cages. An aquaculture project has costs related to fish feed, staff, maintenance, disease control, packing, transportation, and stocking fish in facilities. In comparison to certain other conventional fishing techniques, fish rearing demands a larger initial investment.
Worker safety
workers can become ill from fish feed and water contaminated by infected rats. Working in remote areas near water also puts people at risk of accidental drowning.