Published By: Sougata Dutta

Pisciculture: Now You May Try At Home

Farming and fishing, pisciculture is forte!

We all know how large the market for fish products is. harvesting fish both in freshwater and saltwater to obtain fish products as food or for other uses like cod liver oil is known as pisciculture. It is basically fish farming. It’s the artificial way of fish breeding to provide a stable supply of edible fish. The market of pisciculture is increasing day by day due to increasing demand. It is a business that requires basic capital, limited manpower, knowledge, and smart work to prosper.

The Investment: Starting a farm

Pisciculture requires a good amount of capital to start. But you will recover the whole amount in no time if you understand the market properly. You will be needing various equipment to start a farm. Pumps along with plumbing and filtration systems are the most important parts of it. You will also need nets, cages, and other fishing tools. The most well-known species are tilapia, bass, trout, salmon, catfish, and carp.

Types: Three Ways of Farming

Monoculture farming is the way where only one species of fish is being bred. Normally the fish with high demand in the market are produced in large quantities by this method. In India, shrimp is produced in this way. In polyculture, multiple species of fish are bred together. We have to use compatible fish for this method. The mono-sex culture is the process where only male or female fish of a particular species is reproduced. Tilapia is an example of this.

Farming Methods: Depending on Waterbody

In the Cage system, the fish are put in cages and then kept underwater. If you can access a small pond, it can be beneficial. The water of the pond becomes a good fertiliser due to fish waste. In the Integrated Recycling system, large tanks of plastic are used. The water is then used to grow small plants like basil. In classic fry farming, the fish are released in stream water when they grow into fingerlings.

Benefits: Growing Market

The demand for fish markets is rising with the population. Food habits are not going to change in a particular area, providing security and spontaneity in the business. You have to monitor the market to prosper. There is no hustle to catch fish in this system. You can modify the production to your wish.

Maintenance: The Key Factors

In this business, you have to be careful about clean water, food, equipment, and fingerlings. The key is to maintain integrity in the system.