Pond Owners Research Articles

The improvement of livelihood and rural development by the exotic Pangasiid catfish farming in Bangladesh

A study was conducted to improve the livelihood and rural development by the catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) farming in Mymensingh district in Bangladesh from April 2005 to March 2006 using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools. A total of 117 respondents were randomly chosen, among them 7 hatchery owners, 20 nursery pond owners, 20 fingerling traders, 30 Pangus farmers, 40 market intermediaries were selected. The study revealed that among the respondents 100 percent hatchery owners, 90% nurserers, 60% fingerling traders, 93% Pangus farmers and 80% fish traders have improved their socio-economic condition through respective profession with catfish farming.

A cryptic invasion within an invasion and widespread introgression in the European water frog complex: consequences of uncontrolled commercial trade and weak international legislation

In Western Europe, many pond owners introduce amphibians for ornamental purposes. Although indigenous amphibians are legally protected in most European countries, retailers are circumventing national and international legislation by selling exotic nonprotected sibling species. We investigated to what extent non-native species of the European water frog complex (genus Pelophylax) have become established in Belgium, using morphological, mitochondrial and nuclear genetic markers. A survey of 87 sampling sites showed the presence of non-native water frogs at 47 locations, mostly Marsh frogs (Pelophylax ridibundus). Surprisingly, at least 19% of all these locations also harboured individuals with mitochondrial haplotypes characteristic of Anatolian water frogs (Pelophylax cf. bedriagae). Nuclear genotyping indicated widespread hybridization and introgression between P. ridibundus and P. cf. bedriagae. In addition, water frogs of Turkish origin obtained through a licensed retailer, also contained P. ridibundus and P. cf. bedriagae, with identical haplotypes to the wild Belgian populations. Although P. ridibundus might have invaded Belgium by natural range expansion from neighbouring countries, our results suggest that its invasion was at least partly enhanced by commercial trade, with origins as far as the Middle East. Also the invasion and rapid spread of Anatolian lineages, masked by their high morphological similarity to P. ridibundus, is likely the result of unregulated commercial trade. We expect that Anatolian frogs will further invade the exotic as well as the native range of P. ridibundus and other Pelophylax species elsewhere in Western and Central Europe, with risks of large-scale hybridization and introgression.

INCORPORATING PONDS INTO SOUTHERN FLORIDA'S TROPICAL URBAN LANDSCAPE

Water gardening is fast becoming an integral part of many South Florida landscapes. Due to this growing trend, many professional pond construction and maintenance companies are prospering. However, most people lack the knowledge, finances, or space to build a large show pond. In areas where space is an issue, homeowners may find that a smaller container water feature may be a suitable replacement for the more traditional display pond. Ponds come in a wide variety of styles, shapes, materials, and sizes, so one is only limited by their imagination and budget. Since proper planning is critical to the long term success of any pond, a prospective pond owner should seek the expertise of professional pond company or their county extension agent. Due to South Florida's subtropical climate, a unique variety of plants and fishes are available to the water gardener, which allow for the garden to be enjoyed year-round.

COMPARISON OF AQUACULTURE EXTENSION IMPACTS IN BANGLADESH

ABSTRACT Production from small scale pond aquaculture in Bangladesh trebled in the decade to 1999 under the influence of extension projects of the Department of Fisheries. The impacts of completed aquaculture extension projects and practices of former participants have rarely been investigated so this was done for four past projects. The different extension approaches were: extension with credit and intensive or little supervision; demonstrations; group extension and informal extension by fry traders; and adaptive research-development. Generally extension recipients and non-participants had similar sized landholdings, but demonstration farmers had larger farms and ponds. Extension recipients mainly received information from project-related sources and rated its utility highly. Neighbours and control farmers mainly obtained information from mass media and other farmers, over 90% of these households also cultivated fish. Extension recipients generally followed better practices: for example stocking fewer fingerlings and achieving higher production than non-participants, but with wide variations. Training of fry traders appeared to reduce overstocking in general probably due to the advice of fry traders. Overall, 2–6 years after extension the recipients have continued to farm fish, have a fair understanding of good practice and achieve reasonable yields. Limited demonstration effects occurred. Extension through group approaches and informal agents seem to be cost effective for the many pond owners in Bangladesh.

Otter Lutra lutra damage at farmed fisheries in southeastern Poland, I: an interview survey

Fish farmers were interviewed on the occupancy and impact of otters Lutra lutra at common carp Cyprinus carpio fisheries in southeastern Poland during a preliminary survey in 1994–1995 and in 2003. Otters occurred at 104 (91%) of 114 surveyed fisheries, and in 71 (62%) fish farms the perceived otter predation pressure increased over the last decade. Of the interviewees, 65 (57%) reported serious losses to otters, and of these 51 (78%) claimed to have no otters or to have had the otter problem under control in the mid-1990s. The most frequently listed type of damage was killing or serious injuring of the commercially most valuable brood fish and surplus killing of cultured carps. Nondestructive attempts to protect stocks from otters were reported only exceptionally. Of the farmers with depredation problems, 17% admitted that illegal otter killing occurred at their farms. Field surveys revealed that fish farmers correctly identified otter presence at their ponds. However, farms differing in the perceived otter impact on cultured stocks did not differ in their annual overall fish losses. Private pond owners perceived losses to otters as higher than managers of state-owned fisheries. Spraint analysis at two intensively monitored adjacent fish farms, one with perceived serious economic losses and one which reported a minor otter problem, showed similar proportion of carp by weight (44 vs 41%, respectively) in otter diet.

Incentive for shifts in water management systems by shrimp culturists in southern Thailand

Water management systems and other business situations of shrimp culturists were surveyed in two districts in southern Thailand. There were three types of water management systems in southern Thailand, namely closed, semiclosed and open systems, categorized by the frequency of exchange of pond water. Shrimp culturists in those districts tended to shift their system from the open system to the closed system of their own accord, and the average net income ratio decreased due to the change of water management system in a district from more than 2 to less than 1. The reason for this shift, in spite of the decrease in the profit rate, was prevention of infectious disease caused by water exchange. In conclusion, it was proven that independent shrimp culturists, such as medium and small scale shrimp pond owners in southern Thailand, would accept short-term decreases in profit rate in order to stabilize production.

People and mangroves in the Philippines: fifty years of coastal environmental change

Historical research has enhanced understanding of past human influences on forests and provides insights that can improve current conservation efforts. This paper presents one of the first detailed studies of mangrove forest history. Historical changes in mangroves and their use were examined in Bais Bay and Banacon Island, Philippines. Cutting to make space for fish ponds and residential settlement has dramatically reduced the distribution of mangroves in Bais, although forest has expanded rapidly near the mouth of the largest river where soils from nearby deforested hillsides have been deposited as sediments along the coast. Heavy cutting of mangroves for commercial sale of firewood occurred under minor forest product concessions in Bais and Banacon between the late 1930s and 1979. Cutting for domestic consumption of fuel and construction wood by local people has been widespread in both areas, although rates of cutting have varied in space and over time as a result of changing demographic pressures and in response to cutting restrictions imposed by firewood concessionaires, fish pond owners and government officials. People in both Bais and Banacon have responded to declining local forest availability by planting mangroves. Early motivations to plant reflected the desire to have a ready supply of posts for construction of fish weirs. Many have also planted to protect fishpond dykes and homes from storm damage, and increasing numbers now plant as a means to establish tenure claims over mangrove areas. However, planted stands have tended to be species monocultures and to bear only limited resemblance to natural mangrove forests. In contrast to many upland forests, opportunities for protection and restoration of mangroves are limited by virtue of a highly restricted natural distribution and by competing land uses that are likely to intensify in the future. Understanding historical patterns of change can be instructive to conservationists, but the future remains laden with uncertainties.

Prey‐size Preference, Maximum Handling Size, and Consumption Rates for Redear Sunfish Lepomis microlophus Feeding on Two Gastropods Common to Aquaculture Ponds

AbstractMaximum handling sizes, prey size and species preferences, and ad libitum consumption rates were determined for three size classes of redear sunfish Lepomis microlophus feeding on Physa gyrina and Helisoma trivolvis, two common aquaculture‐pond snails which serve as intermediate hosts for fish parasites. Maximum handling‐size experiments indicated that redear sunfish as small as 14‐cm total length were capable of consuming all sizes of Physa typically observed in ponds, whereas only redear sunfish of at least 32‐cm total length are capable of consuming all commonly observed sizes of pond‐dwelling Helisoma. When presented with a range of sizes of both snail species, redear sunfish consumed higher proportions of smaller‐ and medium‐sized snails; the largest snails offered were uneaten or consumed in relatively small quantities. Multiple linear regression was applied to consumption data to develop a simple model for predicting mean daily ad libitum consumption rate (g/g per d) for redear sunfish feeding on snails with temperature (20–27 C) and fish total length (9–24 cm) as independent variables. Our findings will facilitate prediction of numbers of redear sunfish of a given size required to control populations of Physa and Helisoma in ponds. Such predictions will enable pond owners to quickly evaluate whether stocking redear sunfish as a control agent for undesirable snail populations will be economically and logistically feasible. Findings also indicate potential limitations in the use of redear sunfish to control populations of Helisoma due to the inability of redear sunfish as large as 24‐cm total length to consume the largest 30–40% of Helisoma commonly observed in ponds and to the expense of stocking larger fish (32‐cm total length) capable of consuming all sizes of Helisoma.

Appearances of Beasts and Mystery-Cats in France

These appearances are linked to social resistance towards the new French policies of nature conservation insofar as these policies lead to measures affecting sensitive wildlife animal species. This resistance is especially expressed through, firstly, the passionate assertion that protected birds (seagulls, buzzards or herons) are proliferating harmfully. Protests are especially numerous and vivid for herons. Here are a few examples. In an article about the region of Sologne published in 1989 in an outdoor magazine Grands Reportages, it is said that their population has increased tenfold in the past ten years and that they decimate the fishes of Sologne's numerous ponds because of their huge and uncontrollable appetite. Any pond owner will readily explain to you what personal trick he uses to keep them at bay while remaining within the limits of the law that protects these birds (a transparent nylon thread circling the pond is said to be a good repellent). In October 1990, vehement protests by a fish farmer in the South-East marshland of Les Dombes (departement of Ain-to locate the quoted departements, see map on p. 166) who asserted that he was overrun by herons, almost swamped the ecological early Saturday morning radio programme Frdquence buissonniere. Secondly, there are accusations (equally passionate) of deliberate releases of predators that lead to their pullulation: mainly vipers and foxes, but also big cats. For vipers, assertions of organised releases, carried out from aircraft, have persisted since the mid-seventies. Accusing first serum-producing labs, then nature protectors and officials, these stories are connected to changes in the practices which exploited these strongly tabooed animals and have been reinforced by the 1979 decrees that outlawed the trade in them. After the collective emotions of the early eighties, the phenomenon has entered a more diffuse and stable phase, but it is still vigorous, and organised viper-releases are regarded as true facts by several diversified sections of the French population. Three independent studies of the phenomenon have been conducted.2

Pond Owner Utilization of Management Recommendations Made by State Fishery Personnel

Abstract A mail questionnaire was used to survey 53 pond owners who participated in pond management seminars and 217 pond owners who requested on-site consultation visits during 1986. The objective was to determine the percentage of seminar participants and pond owners who implemented pond management recommendations provided by North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) personnel and to compare implementation rates between groups to determine which method (seminars versus on-site visits) was more effective. Response rates were 84% for the seminar group and 88% for the on-site group. Implementation rates were 98% for the seminar group versus 93% for the on-site group. Implementation rates were not significantly different between groups. Cost comparisons for seminars ($40/participant) versus on-site consultation visits ($96/participant) revealed seminars were a more effective means for disseminating pond management information to pond owners. Comparison of implementation rates from both groups to ...

A survey of man-made water areas in a village in Bangladesh to determine their productive capacity, current use and reasons for under-utilization

To identify the reasons for under-utilization of man-made ponds in Bangladesh, and to find their productive capacity, a study of all ponds in one village in Mymensingh District was undertaken. A total water area of 7.42 ha in the village of Boyra was comprised of 116 ponds. The depth of these ponds varied seasonally with the monsoon, and most of them had medium productive capacity. The majority were dug between 20 and 39 years ago and less than half had embankments in need of repair. Multiple ownership of ponds was common, though this was not thought to be a reason for their not being used for fish culture. Fish culture was claimed to be one of the two main reasons for construction of the ponds. However, they were mostly used for house-hold water supply while a form of fish culture was practised by relatively few pond owners. Ponds were stocked either with fry when available from the nearby river or by allowing fish to enter with the monsoon flood water, and harvesting occurred when fish were needed — no care was taken of fish between these two steps and owners had no knowledge of any more advanced method. Although pond owners wanted to culture fish, capital was a large problem; they did not want to be part of a co-operative. It is concluded that, with good management, Bangladesh is capable of producing 50 000 tonnes/year of fish from her freshwater ponds, whereas present production is negligible.

Three Years of Experience with a Channel Catfish Catchout, Pond in Illinois

Abstract A 0.2-hectare channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, catchout pond was operated for three fishing seasons to develop techniques beneficial to both angler and pond owner. During the first two seasons catfish were cage-reared to catchable size in the catchout pond and periodically released to replace fish caught by anglers. The larger and/or faster-growing catfish were more vulnerable to capture by hook-and-line angling than the smaller and/or slower growing individuals. During the second season cage-reared fish were released more frequently, while “hard-to-catch” fish were trapped or seined from the pond and caged for a week before returning them to the pond. Caging the fish for a short time did not improve catchability, but fish reared in cages were highly vulnerable to angling when released. During the third year largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, were stocked along with the catfish, and both species were maintained on a pellet diet. In 65 fishing days anglers harvested 90% of the catfish an...

Present status of pond fishery resources and livelihood of the fish farmers at Mohanpur Upazila in Rajshahi District

A survey was conducted in Mohanpur Upazila, Rajshahi to determine the pond fishery resources and the livelihood status of fish farmers for a period of nine months (August 2005-April 2006). The survey was conducted on 90 fish farmers of 52 villages under 6 unions. Data were collected through personal visit and interviews following a detailed questionnaire. Pond sizes of the area varied from 15 to above 180 decimal of which maximum ponds (57.8%) were operated by single owner. Field observation revealed that 65.5% ponds were used for fish culture, whereas 28.5% and 6% ponds were culturable and derelict, respectively. Among the fish farmers 23.3% was illiterate whereas 14.4, 8.9 and 6.7% were educated upto primary, secondary and higher secondary or above level, respectively. Agriculture (51.1%) is the principal occupation of the pond owners followed by aquaculture (18.9%). The highest percentage (33%) fish farmers earned Tk. 25,000-50,000 per year, 32% earned Tk. 50,000-1,00,000 an the rest 25% earned above Tk. 1,25,000 annually. Fish farmers were found to face various problems such as social, economical and technical problems, which were identified during the study. Necessary overcome efforts are also suggested according to the problems. 
 
 Key words: Pond fishery resources, fish farmers, livelihood status
 
 Univ. j. zool. Rajshahi Univ. Vol.25 2006 p.31-35

Establishment and Food Habits of the Nutria in Texas

The nutria (Myocastor coypu) has been an object of considerable interest and discussion during the past few years. Ashbrook (1948) discussed importations from their native rivers, estuaries, and marshes of South America to fur farms in Germany, Switzerland, France, Canada, Russia, and the United States. In this discussion Ashbrook also related how many of these animals escaped or were released into the wild due to financial failure of the fur farmers. Atwood (1950) reported on the life history of this exotic in the coastal areas of Louisiana. Those occurring in Texas are descendents of animals imported by E. A. McIlhenny to Avery Island, Iberia Parish, Louisiana in 1937. Dallas fur buyers have reported that as early as 1946 a few nutrias were trapped along the coast near Port Arthur, in southeastern Texas, but apparently there was no appreciable natural spread of this species inland. In April of 1946, Mr. A. C. Lively, reportedly with the intention of growing nutrias for their fur, obtained 20 females and four males from Avery Island and released them in a 300-400 acre marsh near Slocum, Anderson County, 160 miles inland from Port Arthur. About the same time Mr. C. N. Campbell. a relative of Mr. Lively, released three animals into a small five-acre pond near Grapeland in Houston County (Petrides 1950). The outcome of the introductions into Mr. Campbell's pond seemed to be the impetus behind wholesale introductions in 1949 and 1950. According to Mr. Campbell and his neighbors, the pond into which the nutria were released was practically filled with vegetation in 1948 when they were first introduced. By the summer of 1949 it became apparent to the importer that there was much less vegetation in his pond, a condition which he attributed to the activities of the nutria. Since Texas pond owners frequently encounter difficulty in controlling aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation in impoundments, Mr. Campbell began selling nutrias on the strength of their apparent ability to remove undesirable water weeds. The supply of nutrias from Mtr. Campbell's small pond was

Farm Pond Investigations in Alabama

furnished relatively little fishing due to erosion and silting and there were very few natural lakes. Mill ponds and some fish ponds had been constructed as early as colonial times, and there were approximately 700 private ponds in Alabama in 1934. Up to the time this project was started, however, no information was available to those pond owners as to how ponds should be constructed, what kinds and numbers of fish to use in stocking, how to control pond weeds, or how to increase production. As a result, the typical pond of that period was one built upon a rather large stream, subject to heavy influxes of flood water, usually filled with pond weeds from bank to bank-or perpetually muddy from silt brought in by the streams, and yielding average yearly catches of between 5 and 25 pounds of fish per acre per year. Beginning with an experimental plant of 21 ponds at Auburn, Alabama, in 1934, the facilities were expanded year by year until at present they include 142 experimental ponds, a total of 152 acres of water, operated by the Farm Ponds Project. During this period, these experimental ponds were supplemented by investigations conducted in approximately 1000 private ponds scattered throughout the state to include a wider variety of environmental conditio s. In addition, the author has had the invaluable privilege and experience, in cooperation with the U. S. Soil Conservation Service, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and various State Fish and Game Departments, of seining ponds and examining the fish populations in 29 of the 48 states, located in New England, the Midwest, the Pacific States, the Southwest and the Southeast.

Pond Owners Get Fish in Oklahoma

Pond Owners Get Fish in Oklahoma