Freshwater Aquaculture (Salmonids) F.A.Q.s

Mon, 2010/03/15 - 12:54am — admin
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What is Aquaculture?

Fisheries Act Sec. 1: "aquaculture" means the growing and cultivation of aquatic plants, as defined in section 12, or fish, for commercial purposes, in any water environment or in human made containers of water, and includes the growing and cultivation of shellfish on, in or under the foreshore or in water.

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What freshwater fish species are grown in BC?

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is by far the most common type of freshwater fish that is farmed in BC, other fish includes Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus), and Atlantic Salmon (Salmo Salar).

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Where is freshwater aquaculture happening in BC?

There are approximately 19 (1997) freshwater sites in BC, mostly in rural areas of the province. The majority of the freshwater farms are located on Vancouver Island, the Fraser Valley and the Okanagan.

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When selecting a site for a freshwater aquaculture site, what should I look for?

When choosing a location for a site, the farmer must realize that there are many issues at stake, including environmental, social, and economic.

Environmental

Amount of land that is available - The farmer must know if there is enough land to support a farming venture, including buildings, tanks and the pond itself. The farmer should also be prudent in any future expansion of his/her site.

History of the land that is available - Past knowledge of the land is very important especially if the soil is contaminated, with pesticides or any other chemicals.

Source of water - Water coming from wells, springs, or groundwater are preferred then those from streams, rivers, or lakes, because the low quantities of bacteria and pollution.

Water Quality - By checking and recording the physical and chemical compounds such as dissolved oxygen, pH, mineral content, and alkalinity periodically a healthy stock of fish is guaranteed.

Water Temperature - Knowing the temperature is very important because trout and Arctic Char depend on cold water to grow and to be active.

Topography - Knowing the soil and surrounding geography can give the farmer an idea of what to build (pond or raceway)

Social

Legal issues - Fish farming does have regulations and protocols that overlap into the provincial and federal jurisdiction.

Upland owners - Most property owners will balk at the idea of having a fish farm near their property. Therefore it is wise to inform them through an open house seminar or through advertising.

Economic

Nearby land use - Having knowledge in the local zoning bylaws will give the farmer an idea of his/her surroundings.

Proper Infrastructure - Any site consideration should be close to roads, power-lines or generators.

Business Plan - To ensure a thriving business a farmer should consider making a business plan and updating it periodically.

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Do I need a licence or a permit? If so, what do I need?

Yes, before an applicant can receive a license, the person must create a Management Plan. Once approved and if the applicant is on private land, MAL will issue an Aquaculture licence. Some other licences and permits include:

A Municipal Business License issued by a Municipal or Regional District. This license makes sure that the land in question is properly zoned for an industrial use.

A water transfer licence (only required if the applicant is using surface water) issued by the Ministry of Environment. If ground water is used and exceeds 75 litres/sec the applicant will require a project approval certificate issued under the federal Environmental Assessment Act).

A transfer license (only if the fish are being moved to a different water shed) issued by DFO.

A Navigable Waters Protection Act permit (only if the site is on a lake that is navigable by boat) issued by Transport Canada.

Environmental Management Permit or exemption from the Environmental Management Act under the Land Based Finfish Aquaculture Waste Control Regulation (for all water discharges from the facility to surface or to ground), administered by the Ministry of Environment.

Sewage Disposal Permit (only if the sewage discharge is on a septic field) issued by the Ministry of Health.

Freshwater Fish Regulation Permit may be required if the applicant is selling, holding, or transporting certain kinds of live fish (e.g. sturgeon).

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Do I need a tenure?

A tenure is required if the applicant is using crown land for an aquaculture facility, which can be obtained by applying to Land and Water BC (under the Land Act). A tenure can range from a 2 year investigative permit, to a 30 year license of occupation. However, if the operation is on private land then the tenure does not apply.

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What is the legislation relating to fresh water aquaculture for both federal and provincial levels?

The responsibilities are as follows:

The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:

Fisheries Act (provincial)
Fisheries Act Aquaculture Regulations
Farm Practices Protection (Right to Farm) Act

Land and Water BC Inc (A Crown Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands):

Land Act
Water Act

Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts:

Heritage Conservation Act

Ministry of Environment:

Wildlife Act
Environmental Management Act Finfish Aquaculture Waste Control Regulations

Fisheries and Oceans Canada:

Fisheries Act (section 36-3) (federal)

Transport Canada

Navigable Waters Protection Act

Environment Canada:

Canada Wildlife Act
Environmental Assessment Act
Migratory Birds Convention Act
International River Improvements Act

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Do I have to consult with the public when planning to setup a site?

If the operation occurs on public land/water, yes, under the Land Act and the Navigable Waters Protection Act each applicant must consult with adjacent upland owners and First Nations groups.

Public consultations can come in the form of:

advertising and
open house

If the planned operation is on private land there is no requirement to consult the public, however, consultation is encouraged to prevent conflict with neighbours and other interested parties.

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What is the difference between an open water system and a closed water system?

Open water systems use cages and nets that are suspended in a water environment, while land-based systems use tanks and ponds that are filled with water. The former requires the operator to have great knowledge in water circulation, shoreline processes, bathymetry, weather and seasonal patterns. Closed water systems offers the operator more control over his/her culture environment and water distributions, however it requires greater vigilance to ensure the system continues to operate effectively. Closed systems can be flow-through meaning the water passes through the system once, or recirculating meaning that water is reused after each pass through the system.

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What is the difference between fresh water and marine aquaculture?

Freshwater aquaculture occurs in freshwater and marine aquaculture occurs in saltwater. Freshwater operations can be water based (e.g. net cages in lakes) or land based (e.g. tanks and ponds). Marine aquaculture can also be water or land based. Some species of fish spend their entire life in freshwater (e.g. Rainbow Trout), while others only spend part of their life in freshwater (e.g. anadromous salmon that hatch in freshwater and later migrate to sea).

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How much fish should I stock my farm?

Stocking fish will vary greatly, depending on pond productivity and on the farmer’s experience. Generally speaking Arctic Char will do better when stocked at 75kg/m3, while the recommended stocking density for rainbow trout is 600 fingerlings per acre of pond surface area.

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How much water do I need?

Water volume requirements for a farm can vary widely dependent on factors such as production level, water quality, reuse strategies and aeration. A small farm can be run with as little as 20 l/min.

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Where/How can I market farmed fish?

Some forms of marketing for freshwater aquaculture include:

Fee-fishing, this option is limited to spring, summer and fall and requires a lot of work and public interaction.

Live haulers, requires the operator to sell his/her product to a “middle man”, which later sells the fish to a processing plant.

Direct sales to the public, require the operator to sell his/her product live, whole, or processed. This option requires a sanitary processing facility and be inspected by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Direct sales to restaurant and groceries, requires the operator to develop customers through personal contact and a special product.

The following is a link to a document on small scale aquaculture marketing strategies from the Southern Regional Aquaculture Center: http://aquanic.org/publicat/usda_rac/efs/srac/350fs.pdf

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How can I reduce disease in my freshwater aquaculture facility?

A cornerstone of fish health management is the reduction or elimination of risk factors that could make fish more susceptible to disease. By identifying these risk factors, operators can take action before negative health effects occur. Factors include handling, feeding, anesthesia, predator interactions, water quality management, vaccination, and broodstock management. Some ways to minimize disease out breaks include:

  1. Maintain good water quality by regularly checking temperature, oxygen, effluent, etc.

  2. Reduce the time fish are exposed to stressful events such as anesthesia, crowding, grading, tagging, handing, counting, predator interaction, etc.

  3. Vaccinate the fish to minimize injury or secondary diseases.

  4. Have knowledge of the fish lifecycle, in which hygienic, nutritional and handling concerns are addressed.

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Does farmed salmon contain harmful substances?

All food, including beef, chicken, seafood, grains and vegetables, contains trace levels of persistent organic chemicals such as PCBs. This is because these chemicals are ever-present in the environment in minute quantities due to human use of these chemicals over many decades. These types of persistent environmental pollutants can bio-accumulate through the food chain. Animal flesh with a higher fat content tends to store higher levels of these substances.

Fish feed companies monitor the feed ingredients to ensure they do not contain unacceptable levels of dioxins or other contaminants. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) samples fish to monitor for a wide range of environmental and industrial contaminants including mercury, toxic elements, PCB’s, DDT, pesticides and dioxins in order to verify that they do not exceed the Canadian guidelines for chemical contaminants and toxins. Health professionals agree that the health benefits of eating fish far outweigh any potential health risks.

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Are the PCB’s that were found in marine finfish aquaculture the same as fresh water aquaculture?

Most PCB’s in farmed fish originate in fish food, derived from fish meal. Farmed rainbow trout are fed similar food and being closely related to other salmon they have similar feed rates, growth rates and metabolic capacity. Given these similarities, freshwater farmed fish will likely achieve the similar levels as marine farmed salmon.

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In a closed contained system, why are the pectoral fins frayed?

Since the fish spends its life in a cylindrical tank, it will often rub its body against the bottom and side walls causing wear of the fins. Frayed fins can also be caused by nipping and biting by aggressive fish and where densities of fish are high.

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How do I know if my fish has parasites and how do I treat it?

Salmonids that have parasites will show symptoms of “jumping”, “flashing”, and “darting” (all quick movements attempting to dislodge external parasites). They will also show signs of excessive mucous around their body.

Treatment of external parasites usually involves treating the water the fish are swimming in (i.e. a “bath” treatment) with a chemical or compound that causes the parasites to fall off. The most common bath treatments are with formalin or salt.

The following is an example of a formalin bath treatment, commonly used to treat for ectoparasites: http://haywood.ces.ncsu.edu/content/FormalinFlow-ThroughTreatmentsforOneHour&source=haywood

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