U.S. Midwestern farms lack the warm climate (degree-days) needed to compete with pond aquaculture prices. Furthermore, i ndoor recirculating aquaculture production costs cannot compete directly with commodity seafood prices . In most cases Midwestern farmers will need to produce in intensive/super-intensive, climate-controlled, zero-discharge, recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). To be profitable, it is imperative to reduce capital and operating costs to a minimum. In an effort to define the most cost-effective indoor RAS, a series of commercial and self-constructed prototype aquaculture raceway systems were installed and evaluated at a private farm in Missouri. Tank construction materials included HDPE liners, polypropylene sheets, and PVC sheets within plywood containment, as opposed to, commercially available, self-supporting glass-coated steel-sheet systems and self-supporting concrete-filled prefabricated PVC forms . Advantages and disadvantages of the various systems are compared, as well as, construction and operational costs.
RAS production c osts ranges between 200- 600% over pond production cost and commodity fish and shellfish prices. However, RAS costs are 45-65% of typical retail seafood prices. Opportunity in aquaculture exists for Missouri farmers, however, growers will likely need to seek direct sales to consumers capturing profit margin of wholesale/retail chain. Growers will need to bear the holding, processing, advertising, transportation, packaging, time/labor costs needed to market and sell product. Potential aquaculture producers are advised to b egin small and focus on markets before addressing technology and investment issues. Issues that should be addressed include, 1) Which marketable species? 2) What product to provide , whole or processed ? 3) How much to charge? 4) How to promote/advertise and? 5) Where to sell?