The constant rise of fish demand in the world has led to the increase in popularity of farm raised fish. For example, most of the salmon you find in the market today will have come from a fish farm. Fish farms are not only capable of rearing salmon, but also other types of fish. Some of the common types of fish found in such farms will include tilapia, carp, sea bass, catfish and cod. To understand how one can be successful in a farm raised fish project, one will need to understand today’s fish farming methods. In the present day, fish are farmed using two methods; extensive and intensive aquaculture.
In intensive aquaculture, the main aspect is that the farmer has to feed the fish meaning fish do not need to look for their own food. The number of fish a farmer can raise will be determined by the amount of oxygen available, species of the fish and in some cases, the availability of the food that can be provided. Fish farming using this type of system will require large amounts of fresh water. The cheapest and most effective method involves the use of a cage in the ocean or river.
The main advantage of such a method is there will be no need to cleanse the water and the fish will have plenty of water to breath. Salmon is a good example of ocean farm raised fish that can be raised using this method. The other method of providing fresh water would be using a combination of water treatment and hydroponic horticulture. Pure clean water is returned after wastes generated by fish are removed using such a method. Fish wastes are recycled to grow other plants including various vegetables.
Unlike the intensive aquaculture method, in extensive aquaculture the farm raised fish have to find their own food. However, the fish farmer has to provide the initial push for food. In this type of fish farming, the farmer has to have a pond. The pond is added fertilizer which will allow algae and vegetation to grow. The growth of algae and vegetation provides a consistent food supply for the fish to feed on.
Non-carnivorous fish are the type of fish that are normally grown using this method. The advantage of using such a methods is that farm raised fish of different types can be grown in the same pond. This is attributed to the fact that the different fish types will not be competing for the same food sources. For example, tilapia eats algae and carp mainly eat grasses. Both these fish can be raised together since they eat different sources of food. These farm raised fish should not be overpopulated as this will deplete the oxygen supply.
Currently, extensive aquaculture and intensive aquaculture systems are responsible for more than 40% of the fish consumed. This means that fish farming is one of the most lucrative methods of farming that an individual can practice. The types of fish raised using these methods will vary and can be non-carnivorous such as catfish, tilapia, carp or carnivorous such as sea bass, trout and salmon.