RECIRCULING AQUACULTURE

Typically recirculating (closed) aquatic production systems have higher capital and operating costs than many of the extensive systems such as cage culture in natural waters and raceway and/or pond culture systems. However, when the control provided by recirculating systems and the benefits this environmental control provides in terms of marketing, waste control, product quality, product availability, and other factors are considered-- then recirculating systems become much more attractive. Thus, this text is designed primarily for recirculating systems, which the authors feel will be the systems of choice for most new aquaculture ventures. Much of the information provided in this text does, however, also apply to open, semi-closed, and closed systems in terms of tank design, hydraulics, fish management, water quality, etc. The objectives of this text are the practical application of aquacultural engineering and how to design, construct, and manage an aquatic production system. It provides the reader with essential information necessary to get started in aquaculture production and it emphasizes practical information rather than in-depth theoretical discussions. It does not provide the reader with information on genetics, basic biology, marketing, and all of the other areas important to development of a successful aquaculture operation. Many of these topics are touched on in the text, but are presented only in sufficient detail to allow the reader to understand the relationship of each of these aspects to production of fish. There is no attempt to present in-depth discussions of these topics. Rather the object is to provide sufficient information so the reader can: 1) look at a system and make a good judgment as to how well the systems will operate, 2) work with a systems designer to develop an aquatic production system of your own, and 3) know what to look for when shopping for aquacultural production systems.