Innovations and Georgia Aquaculture

Gary J. BurtleGary J. Burtle

Animal & Dairy ScienceAnimal & Dairy Science

The University of GeorgiaThe University of Georgia

www.cpes.peachnet.edu/aquaculturewww.cpes.peachnet.edu/aquaculture

Hybrid Catfish Project

• Interest in Hybrid Catfish is gaining ground Interest in Hybrid Catfish is gaining ground in the Southeast U.S.in the Southeast U.S.

• Selling for 1.25 to 3.0 cents per inch Selling for 1.25 to 3.0 cents per inch depending on state and quantitydepending on state and quantity

• Highest prices in AlabamaHighest prices in Alabama

• Limited by fingerling availabilityLimited by fingerling availability

Spawning Hybrids

• Need 5 yr old blue males, 4-5 year old channel Need 5 yr old blue males, 4-5 year old channel femalesfemales

• Check females each week during spawning season Check females each week during spawning season and inject with carp pituitaryand inject with carp pituitary

• Inject male blue catfish with carp pituitary and Inject male blue catfish with carp pituitary and dissect testes for in vitro fertilization after female dissect testes for in vitro fertilization after female is stripped of eggs, 3-5 females per maleis stripped of eggs, 3-5 females per male

• Expect 3,000 to 4,000 fry per femaleExpect 3,000 to 4,000 fry per female

Hybridization Trial Results

• 50% of females will produce eggs by 50% of females will produce eggs by stripping after hormone injectionstripping after hormone injection

• Male blue catfish can be stimulated with Male blue catfish can be stimulated with urine from female blue catfishurine from female blue catfish

• Harvest testes within 24 hours of Harvest testes within 24 hours of stimulation, urine or hormonestimulation, urine or hormone

• Maintain 78 degree water for best resultsMaintain 78 degree water for best results

Hybrid Stocking

• Obtain hybrid fingerlings from hatcheries Obtain hybrid fingerlings from hatcheries with disease control programswith disease control programs

• Have fingerlings inspected for disease prior Have fingerlings inspected for disease prior to purchaseto purchase

• Apply chelated copper rather than copper Apply chelated copper rather than copper sulfate for hybrid pondssulfate for hybrid ponds

• Stock 6,000 to 10,000 per acreStock 6,000 to 10,000 per acre• 0.05 to 1.5 pounds in 5 months0.05 to 1.5 pounds in 5 months

Vietnamese Catfish

• Basa, Pangasius bacurtiBasa, Pangasius bacurti

• Grown in cages on rice bran and dried fishGrown in cages on rice bran and dried fish

• Sold as frozen filletsSold as frozen fillets

• From 7 million pounds in 2000 to over 20 From 7 million pounds in 2000 to over 20 million pounds in 2001million pounds in 2001

• Illegal label until October 2001Illegal label until October 2001

Basa

Cage Culture of Basa

National Bill Sets Label Law

• Introduced in House in early 2001 passed Introduced in House in early 2001 passed Senate in OctoberSenate in October

• Requires “catfish” to be from the family Requires “catfish” to be from the family “Ictaluridae” and excludes “Siluridae” or “Ictaluridae” and excludes “Siluridae” or “Pangasiidae”“Pangasiidae”

Status of Imported Catfish Label

• Basa fish sold as catfish perceived as illegalBasa fish sold as catfish perceived as illegal

• July 2001, Vietnam orders all basa labelled July 2001, Vietnam orders all basa labelled as product of Vietnam, Mekon catfish, basa as product of Vietnam, Mekon catfish, basa catfish, or pangas catfish.catfish, or pangas catfish.

• October 2001, US Senate passes label law October 2001, US Senate passes label law to require proper catfish labelingto require proper catfish labeling

Impact of Vietnamese Catfish

• 20 million pounds of fillets in 200120 million pounds of fillets in 2001

• 23% of farm raised catfish fillet market23% of farm raised catfish fillet market

• 3% of US catfish market3% of US catfish market

• Competition at time of US economic Competition at time of US economic recessionrecession

• Pond bank price below 50 cents per pound Pond bank price below 50 cents per pound in Mississippi, 53 cents in Georgiain Mississippi, 53 cents in Georgia

Fish Imports (1,000 lb)

SeptSept

20002000

SeptSept

20012001

Jan-SepJan-Sep

20002000

Jan-SepJan-Sep

20012001

CatfishCatfish

FilletFillet

615615 1,4011,401 5,1745,174 12,17512,175

TilapiaTilapia

ProductsProducts

7,4997,499 5,5525,552 40,78740,787 50,00750,007

Cold Storage Holdings (1,000 lb) Down 8 to 13% since 2000

10-31-0010-31-00 10-31-0110-31-01 9-31-019-31-01

CatfishCatfish 12,90612,906 11,87311,873 13,33713,337

SaltwaterSaltwater

TotalTotal

278,085278,085 240,879240,879 240,713240,713

Fresh Fish Prices at Fulton Market (Nov 30, 2001)

Catfish FilletCatfish Fillet $ 2.75 /lb$ 2.75 /lb

Cod FilletCod Fillet $ 4.00 /lb ($2.00 frozen)$ 4.00 /lb ($2.00 frozen)

Tilapia FilletTilapia Fillet $ 3.90 /lb$ 3.90 /lb

Hybrid Striped Bass Hybrid Striped Bass FilletFillet

$ 2.75 /lb$ 2.75 /lb

Tilapia Culture

• Several Recirculating Systems in GeorgiaSeveral Recirculating Systems in Georgia

• Some small hydroponics systems also in Some small hydroponics systems also in GeorgiaGeorgia

• Processing in North Carolina by Southern Processing in North Carolina by Southern States CooperativeStates Cooperative

• Systems are in a 45-50 mile radius of Systems are in a 45-50 mile radius of ValdostaValdosta

Economics of Tilapia Culture

• Based on capital provided by othersBased on capital provided by others

• Must have land and positive net worthMust have land and positive net worth

• Must be identifiable as a farmerMust be identifiable as a farmer

• Approximately $20,000 net per year per Approximately $20,000 net per year per system as a goalsystem as a goal

• Only available through Southern States Only available through Southern States CooperativeCooperative

Freshwater Prawns

• Machrobrachium Machrobrachium rosenbergiirosenbergii

• An exotic shrimp from An exotic shrimp from MalaysiaMalaysia

• TropicalTropical• Lives in freshwater for Lives in freshwater for

part of its life-cyclepart of its life-cycle

U. S. Prawn Culture

• Of interest for over 25 yearsOf interest for over 25 years• Limited by the availability of seed stockLimited by the availability of seed stock• Cultured in Texas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Cultured in Texas, Kentucky, Mississippi,

South Carolina, Tennessee, recently in South Carolina, Tennessee, recently in GeorgiaGeorgia

• Average production 500 to 800 pounds per Average production 500 to 800 pounds per acre. acre.

• Maximum production about 2,500 lb/A.Maximum production about 2,500 lb/A.

Prawn Production in Ponds

• Prepare pond for stockingPrepare pond for stocking

• Stock 10,000 to 30,000 juveniles per acreStock 10,000 to 30,000 juveniles per acre

• Fertilize for first 30 – 60 daysFertilize for first 30 – 60 days

• Feed a sinking feed during months 2-4Feed a sinking feed during months 2-4

• Monitor and control oxygen and pHMonitor and control oxygen and pH

• Use narrow ponds less than 2 acres in sizeUse narrow ponds less than 2 acres in size

• Harvest before water falls below 60 degreesHarvest before water falls below 60 degrees

Proper Sized Juvenile Prawns

• 60 day old, 95/oz60 day old, 95/oz• 28-35 day old, 250 to 28-35 day old, 250 to

280 per oz280 per oz• Uniform size very Uniform size very

importantimportant• Careful handling and Careful handling and

stocking are essential stocking are essential to juvenile survivalto juvenile survival

• Avoid overcrowdingAvoid overcrowding

Feeding Prawns

• Start with cottonseed meal and N-P-KStart with cottonseed meal and N-P-K

• Use sinking catfish feed for 500 to 800 lb/AUse sinking catfish feed for 500 to 800 lb/A

• Use shrimp diet for higher yieldsUse shrimp diet for higher yields

• Monitor zooplankton with net during first Monitor zooplankton with net during first monthmonth

• Feed over entire pond areaFeed over entire pond area

• Estimate feed rate based on prawn samplesEstimate feed rate based on prawn samples

Water Quality in Prawn Ponds

• Aerate continuouslyAerate continuously

• Keep oxygen above 3.0 ppmKeep oxygen above 3.0 ppm

• Monitor pH twice each dayMonitor pH twice each day

• Flush with water to keep below 9.0 (Use Flush with water to keep below 9.0 (Use pond water of low pH if possible)pond water of low pH if possible)

• Add gypsum to lower pH, 1,000 to 2,000 Add gypsum to lower pH, 1,000 to 2,000 lb/Acre added as neededlb/Acre added as needed

Harvest Procedure

• Seine most of prawns with water at 1/2 Seine most of prawns with water at 1/2 depthdepth

• Use 1/2 inch mesh seine, grade with bar Use 1/2 inch mesh seine, grade with bar grader, 62/64 widthgrader, 62/64 width

• Consider partial harvest one month before Consider partial harvest one month before end of seasonend of season

• Final harvest requires pond drainingFinal harvest requires pond draining

Economic Sketch

• Breakeven at 1,000 lb/A is about $5.00 per Breakeven at 1,000 lb/A is about $5.00 per poundpound

• Juveniles cost $1,500 to $3,000 per acreJuveniles cost $1,500 to $3,000 per acre

• Feed costs $300 to $550 per acreFeed costs $300 to $550 per acre

• Aeration costs $200 to $400 per acreAeration costs $200 to $400 per acre

• Labor cost $800 to $1,200 per acreLabor cost $800 to $1,200 per acre

• Variable cost total$2,800 to $5,100 per acreVariable cost total$2,800 to $5,100 per acre

Litopenaeus vannamei

Conditions for Culture

• 0.5 to 2.0 parts per thousand salinity0.5 to 2.0 parts per thousand salinity

• Recirculated water or small, aerated pondsRecirculated water or small, aerated ponds

• Establish bacterial food source as well as Establish bacterial food source as well as feeding an adequate sinking pelletfeeding an adequate sinking pellet

• Warm water temperatures would require Warm water temperatures would require indoor culture in Georgiaindoor culture in Georgia

• Indoor culture may prevent disease outbreakIndoor culture may prevent disease outbreak

Current Status of Perry Project

• Contact William MacGrath 478-988-0590Contact William MacGrath 478-988-0590

• Georgia Marine Shrimp ProjectGeorgia Marine Shrimp Project

• Looking for Cooperating Farmers for Phase Looking for Cooperating Farmers for Phase 2 of project2 of project

• Economics available in next 12 to 24 Economics available in next 12 to 24 monthsmonths