AQUACULTURE
SYSTEMS
By :-
Bamaniya Pinak kamleshbhai
College of Fisheries science, veraval
Subject :-
Aquaculture Engineering

Definition
of Aquaculture

➔ Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms: fish,
molluscs, crustaceans, aquatic plants, crocodiles,
alligators, turtles, and amphibians.
➔ Farming implies some form of intervention in the
rearing process to enhance production, such as regular
stocking, feeding, protection from predators, etc.
➔ Farming also implies individual or corporate ownership
of the stock being cultivated.

➔For statistical purposes, aquatic organisms which
are harvested by an individual or corporate body
which has owned them throughout their rearing
period contribute to aquaculture, while aquatic
organisms which are exploitable by the public as
a common property resource, with or without
appropriate licenses, are the harvest of capture
fisheries.

Definition of
on-growing units

➔ Ponds and tanks are
artificial units of varying
sizes constructed above or
below ground level
capable of holding and
interchanging water.
➔ Rate of exchange of
water is usually low, i.e.
not exceeding 10 changes
per day.

➔ Enclosures and pens refer to water areas confined
by net, mesh and other barriers allowing
uncontrolled water interchange and distinguished by
the fact that enclosures occupy the full water column
between substrate and surface; pens and enclosures
will generally enclose a relatively large volume of
water.

➔ Cages refer to open or covered enclosed structures
constructed with net, mesh or any porous material allowing
natural water interchange.
➔ These structures may be floating, suspended, or fixed to
the substrate but still permitting water interchange from
below.

➔ Raceways and silos (a pit on farm) are artificial units
constructed above or below ground level capable of high
rates of water interchange in excess of 20 changes per day.

➔ Barrages are semi-permanent or seasonal enclosures
formed by impervious man-made barriers and appropriate
natural features.

➔ Rice-cum-fish paddies refer to paddy fields used for the
culture of rice and aquatic organisms; rearing them in rice
paddies to any marketable size.

➔Rafts, ropes, stakes refer to the culture of
shellfish, notably mussels, and seaweeds usually
conducted in open waters using rafts, long lines
or stakes.
➔The stakes are impaled in the seabed in inter-
tidal areas and ropes are suspended in deeper
waters from rafts or buoys.

➔ Hatcheries refer to installations for housing facilities for
breeding, nursing and rearing seed of fish, invertebrates or
aquatic plants to fry, fingerlings or juvenile stages.

➔ Nurseries refer generally to the second phase in the
rearing process of aquatic organisms and refer to
small, mainly outdoor ponds and tanks.

Other
Definitions

(a) By sea-ranching is understood the harvest of enhanced
capture fisheries,
➔ i.e. the raising of aquatic animals, mainly for human
consumption, under extensive production systems, in open
space (oceans, lakes) where they grow using natural food
supplies.
➔ These animals may be released by national authorities and
re-captured by fishermen as wild animals, either when they
return to the release site e.g. salmon, or elsewhere
(seabreams, flatfishes).

(b) The production of wild-
caught fish raised temporarily in
holding facilities is considered as
enhanced capture.

CLASSIFICATION OF
AQUACULTURE
SYSTEM

Based on salinity
of water

Freshwater Culture
➔ By freshwater culture is understood the cultivation of
aquatic organisms where the end product is raised in
freshwater, such as reservoirs, rivers, lakes, canals and
groundwater, in which the salinity does not normally
exceed 0.5 ppt.

Brackishwater Culture
➔ By brackishwater culture is understood the cultivation of
aquatic organisms where the end product is raised in
brackishwater, such as estuaries, coves, bays, lagoons and
fjords, in which the salinity may lie or generally fluctuate
between 0.5‰ and 30 ppt.

Mariculture
➔ By mariculture is understood that the cultivation of the
end product takes place in seawater, such as fjords,
inshore and open waters and inland seas in which the
salinity generally 30-35 ppt.

Based on
temperature of
water

Cold water Aquaculture
➔ The temperature ranges from 00C to 200C.
➔ It is practiced in temperate countries and at high
altitude.

Warm water Aquaculture
➔ The temperature ranges from 200C to 350C.
➔ It is practiced in tropical countries.

Based on the
movement of water

Static system
➔ Traditional pond production systems use static water system
without exchange of water during the culture period. i.e.
Extensive culture system.

Open system
➔ In this system environment is the aqua-farm.
➔ This include cage and pen systems, bivalve culture on
rack or ling-line placed in open water.

Semi-enclosed system
➔ It involves ponds, tanks and raceways.
➔ The regular water exchange is done with adjacent water
sources.
➔ In this system water is drawn to the farm by gravity,
pumping or total exchange.

Closed (Recirculating) system
➔ These are usually characterized by minimum
connection with the original water source.
➔ These systems have minimal exchange of water
during production cycle. Hence, it is known as closed
system.

Based on
intensity of
culture

Extensive aquaculture system
➔It is least managed culture practice.
➔Growth of animal is depends upon the natural
food.
➔No supplementary feed provided. Aeration is not
given.
➔Production is low as 200-500 kg/ha/year.

Semi-intensive aquaculture system
➔ Organisms are cultured at comparatively high
stocking density.
➔ It rely to an extent on natural productivity (natural
food) hence fertilization necessary.
➔ Supplementary feeds are also given.
➔ Aeration and water exchange are necessary.
Production is 2-5 ton/ha/year.

Intensive aquaculture system
➔ Organisms are cultured at very high stocking
density.
➔ High quality artificial feed are provided to meet the
entire nutritional requirement.
➔ NO fertilization.
➔ High yield are per unit area or volume.

Super-intensive aquaculture system
➔ this system is comparable to the intensive system
except water is reconditioned or recycled, instead of
regular exchange of water.
➔ High quality of artificial feeds is provided to meet all
the nutritional requirement of the cultured species.
➔ Very high stocking density and no fertilization are
required.

Kind of materials
used for
enclosure

Plastic tanks

Cement concrete

Earthen ponds

FRP tanks

Based on water
source

Rain fed farm

Tide fed farm

Sewage water

Ground water

Spring water

Municipal/corporation water

River/canal /dam

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