Fingerling and Food-Fish Production in Ponds

Abstract

Growing fish in earthen ponds is an ancient practice, and ponds continue to be the most common fish culture system used worldwide. Over 95 percent of the catfish produced in the United States are grown in ponds. Nevertheless, pond culture of channel catfish is profitable only when the proper combination of resources is available. Water temperature cannot be controlled in ponds, and commercial pond culture is feasible only in regions that provide a growing season long enough to produce a 1-pound fish from egg in less than 18 months. Pond culture also requires large tracts of relatively inexpensive land. The land must be of the correct topography and soil type for economical construction and operation of ponds. Pond culture is water-intensive, and large volumes of high-quality water must also be readily available. Even when these resources are available, production of fish in ponds will be uneconomical if there is no market for the fish or if variable operating costs (particularly feed cost) are high. The proper industry infrastructure is necessary for profitable production of channel catfish.