Aquaculture Innovation: Growing the Future, Nurturing the Waters
A tank system for fish culturing is a land-based enclosure designed for intensive aquaculture. These tanks can be constructed from various materials such as concrete, wood, plastic, fiberglass, or steel. The system requires a complete feed diet due to the lack of natural food sources. It can operate on different types of water and air supply systems, including flow-through and recirculation. The system is designed to rear species like catfish and tilapia at high densities, requiring regular sorting to minimize mortality due to cannibalism. The system’s success relies on maintaining excellent water quality and ensuring a year-round availability of quality water.
This technology is TAAT1 validated.
Premade suspended tanks with a volume of 2000 liter
harvest every 9months for a stocking rate of 50 fish per square meter
Gross margin after deducting operating costs
Efficient Use of Resources: Addressing the issue of limited land and water resources, tank systems require significantly less land and water compared to traditional methods, making them suitable for areas with limited resources.
Optimal Environmental Control: In response to the lack of environmental control in traditional aquaculture, tanks provide a high degree of environmental control, allowing for year-round growth at optimum rates. Key parameters like dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity, hardness, ammonia, nitrite, and pH can be maintained at optimal levels.
High-Density Rearing: To tackle the problem of low production intensity in traditional methods, tanks allow for intensive fish production, which is cost-effective and can meet high market demand.
Reduced Mortality: Addressing the issue of high mortality rates in traditional systems, regular sorting of fish in tanks can minimize mortality due to cannibalism.
Proximity to Markets: In response to the issue of distance from markets in traditional aquaculture, tanks can be located close to prime markets, reducing transportation costs and ensuring fresh produce.
Maximized Feed Use: To tackle the problem of inefficient feed use in open systems, tanks require a complete feed diet, maximizing food conversion and promoting rapid growth.
Lower Environmental Impact: Addressing the environmental impact of traditional aquaculture, recirculating systems in tanks can help reduce the environmental footprint of aquaculture.
Improved Biosecurity: In response to the issue of poor biosecurity in open systems, tanks, being closed systems, reduce the risk of disease outbreaks.
Energy Efficiency: To tackle the problem of high energy use in traditional systems, recirculating systems in tanks can be more energy-efficient as they recycle water within the system.
Manufacturers:
Manufacturing diverse aquaculture tanks revolutionizes fish farming, optimizes space utilization, and enhances resource efficiency. To successfully penetrate this market, you need to identify reliable sources for raw materials to construct the tanks, find efficient transportation methods, and secure appropriate storage facilities.
Your potential customers are: wholesale distributors supplying to retailers, development projects, government agencies, and NGOs. Building robust partnerships with these distributor networks is crucial to the success of your business. Remember, every type of tank, from breeding to grow-out tanks, has its unique place in the market. Catering to this variety can significantly broaden your customer base.
Resellers:
Venturing into the reselling of aquaculture tanks opens up opportunities in the thriving aquaculture industry. These tanks, ranging from hatchery tanks to grow-out tanks, cater to different stages of fish farming, making them indispensable to farmers.
To thrive in this market, it’s crucial to source tanks from manufacturers known for their quality and durability. Countries renowned for their advanced aquaculture technology could be potential sourcing points.
Transportation and storage are key logistics aspects to consider. Given the size and fragility of some tanks, secure and efficient transportation methods are essential. Similarly, spacious and safe storage facilities are needed to maintain the condition of the tanks.
The cost of tanks can vary greatly, depending on their size, type, and the technology they incorporate. For instance, a high-tech recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) tank might cost more than a simple grow-out tank. Always factor in the costs of transportation, import duties, and taxes when pricing your products.
Your potential customers are diverse, ranging from small-scale fish farmers to large aquaculture projects, and even fisheries cooperatives. Understanding their specific needs and offering tailored solutions can set you apart in the market. For instance, small-scale farmers might prefer affordable, easy-to-maintain tanks, while large projects might look for high-tech, high-capacity tanks.
Remember, in the aquaculture industry, the success of your customers is your success. So, offering after-sale services, such as installation guidance and maintenance tips, can go a long way in building strong customer relationships.
Fish growers:
Using various types of aquaculture tanks, including those built with durable concrete materials or premade tanks, can significantly enhance your fish farming operations. Concrete tanks offer increased durability and longevity, making them a worthwhile investment for long-term operations. On the other hand, premade tanks can provide convenience and speed in setup, which might be more suitable for certain operations.
Key partners in this venture include reliable tank manufacturers and logistics partners. It’s crucial to source tanks that are known for their quality, whether they’re made of traditional materials, durable concrete, or are premade.
Costs can vary based on the tank type, size, and construction material. While concrete tanks might have a higher upfront cost, their durability can lead to cost savings in the long run. Premade tanks, while potentially less durable than concrete, offer the advantage of lower initial costs and faster setup times.
Moreover, using aquaculture tanks can lead to savings in other areas. For example, the controlled environment of a tank system can reduce the risk of disease outbreaks, thereby cutting down on healthcare costs. Similarly, the efficient use of feed in tank systems can minimize feed expenses.
Remember, the successful operation of these tanks requires technical knowledge and skills. Therefore, investing in training and capacity building is crucial. This could involve learning about water quality management, feed management, and disease control specific to tank systems. Whether you’re using a traditional tank, a durable concrete one, or a premade tank, proper management is key to successful fish farming
Adults 18 and over: Positive high
The poor: Positive medium
Under 18: Positive medium
Women: Positive medium
Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable
Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement
Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity
Carbon footprint: A bit less carbon released
Environmental health: Greatly improves environmental health
Soil quality: Improves soil health and fertility
Water use: Much less water used
Country | Tested | Adopted |
---|---|---|
Angola | Tested | Adopted |
Benin | Tested | Adopted |
Botswana | Tested | Adopted |
Burkina Faso | Tested | Adopted |
Cameroon | Tested | Adopted |
Central African Republic | Tested | Adopted |
Democratic Republic of the Congo | Tested | Adopted |
Djibouti | Tested | Adopted |
Equatorial Guinea | Tested | Adopted |
Eritrea | Tested | Adopted |
Guinea | Tested | Adopted |
Kenya | Tested | Adopted |
Liberia | Tested | Adopted |
Madagascar | Tested | Adopted |
Malawi | Tested | Adopted |
Mali | Tested | Adopted |
Mozambique | Tested | Adopted |
Rwanda | Tested | Adopted |
Senegal | Tested | Adopted |
Sierra Leone | Tested | Adopted |
Somalia | Tested | Adopted |
South Sudan | Tested | Adopted |
Sudan | Tested | Adopted |
Tanzania | Tested | Adopted |
Togo | Tested | Adopted |
Uganda | Tested | Adopted |
Zambia | Tested | Adopted |
This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.
AEZ | Subtropic - warm | Subtropic - cool | Tropic - warm | Tropic - cool |
---|---|---|---|---|
Arid | ||||
Semiarid | ||||
Subhumid | ||||
Humid |
Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.
The procedures for catfish farming in tanks and cages are:
1. Stocking Density: Depending on your desired harvest size and time, choose your stocking density. For catfish in tanks, you can stock 25-gram fingerlings at a rate of 1,500 fish per cubic meter to achieve 50- to 60-gram fish in 5 weeks. Alternatively, stock at 1,000 fish per cubic meter for 100-gram fish in 9 to 10 weeks.
2. Regular Sorting: To prevent mortality due to cannibalism, it's crucial to sort the fish every two weeks. Identify and remove faster-maturing individuals from the stock.
3. Maintaining Clean Environment: In both tanks and cage systems, ensure that uneaten feed and feces do not accumulate. Regularly remove any waste material underneath the tanks or cages to prevent the proliferation of parasites and diseases.
4. Adequate Space Below Cages: Maintain a minimum distance of 3 meters below the cage. This space ensures proper water circulation through the cage and minimizes undesirable accumulation underneath.
Last updated on 22 May 2024