Tilapia are warm fresh-water fish native to Africa and Middle East that are cultured all over the world. Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is the third most produced finfish in global aquaculture because they are a hardy, fast-growing, omnivorous fish, capable of utilizing lower cost feed ingredients. Tilapia is cultured both indoors and outdoors depending on rearing environment and regional climate. Nile tilapia grow best at temperatures around 27-31C, but the seasonal Kentucky climate limits outdoor production to May through September. However, the use of existing ponds has the potential to reduce initial costs for small-scale production of tilapia, which can allow for this limited growing season to still be profitable. In-pond cages and out-of-pond raceway culture methods have the potential to repurpose ponds unsuitable for traditional pond aquaculture.
The development of innovative methods to culture tilapia can provide data on the efficiency of different culture systems and optimal fish growth using existing ponds that are otherwise inadequate for fish farming. This presentation demonstrates how to build in-pond cages and out-of-pond tanks (either single or in series) and provides cost analysis of these easily constructed culture containers.
In-Pond Cage
Using PVC, screen mesh, and flotation mechanisms, these cages can be easily built and installed in existing ponds (Figure 1). Stocking and harvesting efficiency can be increased with the use of pulleys or by attaching them to docks. The addition of automated or demand feeders can reduce physical labor of daily feedings, especially for those farmers with special needs and mobility challenges.
Out-of-Pond Tank
Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC totes), PVC, and a pump can be used to make a raceway culture set up (Figure 2). Water will be pumped from the pond into the tanks then back to the pond. These can also be set in a series where gravity flow distributes fresh water from one tank to another. This allows for use of ponds that are not suitable for traditional pond culture
These small-scale alternative production methods have the ability to be scaled up for increased production, and they have the potential to provide increased opportunity for much needed expansion of US Tilapia Aquaculture. Topic Area: Aquaculture Extension, Tilapia production