Aquaculture: Aquaculture: Fish FarmingFish Farming

By: Audrey HarmonBy: Audrey Harmon

There are many types of There are many types of fish. Some live in oceans. fish. Some live in oceans.

They need salt water.They need salt water.

Some live in lakes and Some live in lakes and rivers. They need fresh rivers. They need fresh

water.water.

In Oklahoma we have no In Oklahoma we have no bodies of salt water but bodies of salt water but we have plenty of fresh we have plenty of fresh water lakes and rivers.water lakes and rivers.

We have more man-made lakes We have more man-made lakes than any other state.than any other state.

We have over 1 million surface We have over 1 million surface acres of water.acres of water.

We have 2,000 more miles of We have 2,000 more miles of shoreline than the Atlantic and shoreline than the Atlantic and Gulf coasts combined.Gulf coasts combined.

Most fish grow in rivers and Most fish grow in rivers and lakes, but in some places lakes, but in some places there are fish farms. Fish there are fish farms. Fish

farming is called farming is called aquaculture. Aquaculture is aquaculture. Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing one of the fastest growing segments of US agriculture.segments of US agriculture.

Channel catfish is the Channel catfish is the primary species of farm-primary species of farm-raised fish in the US. The raised fish in the US. The grandparents of most of the grandparents of most of the channel catfish raised in the channel catfish raised in the US are probably from US are probably from Oklahoma.Oklahoma.

Channel catfish can be Channel catfish can be grouped in one of four grouped in one of four

groups while at the farm.groups while at the farm.

1.1. Brood Fish-Brood Fish- the fish that the fish that produce the offspring.produce the offspring.

2.2. Fry-Fry- the newly hatched fish. the newly hatched fish.

3.3. Fingerlings-Fingerlings- young catfish. young catfish.

4.4. Marketable Fish-Marketable Fish- fish that are fish that are about 18 months old and weigh about 18 months old and weigh between 1 and 1 ½ pounds.between 1 and 1 ½ pounds.

When catfish are 18 days old When catfish are 18 days old they are strong enough to be they are strong enough to be transferred to outdoor ponds. transferred to outdoor ponds. These ponds vary in size These ponds vary in size from 5-20 acres and are 4-5 from 5-20 acres and are 4-5 feet deep.feet deep.

The young fish are fed The young fish are fed twice a day. Their food twice a day. Their food is made from soybeans, is made from soybeans, corn, wheat, and fish corn, wheat, and fish

meal.meal.

When the catfish are ready When the catfish are ready to harvest, they are caught to harvest, they are caught

in nets and placed in in nets and placed in aerated tank trucks for aerated tank trucks for

live shipment to processing live shipment to processing plants. plants.

Interesting facts about Interesting facts about channel catfish:channel catfish:

They do not have They do not have scales.scales.

Their color Their color depends on the depends on the color of water color of water they live in.they live in.

Catfish move Catfish move mostly at night.mostly at night.

During the day, During the day, catfish hide.catfish hide.

They need oxygen to They need oxygen to live.live.

They use gills to They use gills to breathe oxygen.breathe oxygen.

Fish that are stressed Fish that are stressed or pursued by a or pursued by a predator need more predator need more oxygen than fish at oxygen than fish at rest.rest.

Fish provide us with Fish provide us with protein.protein.