Recent Developments In Catfish Aquaculture

This book is a single convenient source of information that covers priority areas of research in channel catfish aquaculture. Recent Developments in Catfish Aquaculture compiles some of the latest research in the field as presented at the Catfish Research Symposium. The editors present a diverse collection of chapters that illustrates recent research efforts in catfish culture and shows the scope of research that is being conducted in nutrition, genetics, water quality management, economics, fish health, and pond production systems. Some of the contributing authors’chapters are developmental but many contain information that can be immediately applied to commercial situations to improve production efficiency. A variety of subjects are covered in this catfish resource, including: Health Issues: immunology, vaccination, selection, drug evaluation, nutritional causes Genetics: hybridization, selection Hatchery Management: new techniques to incubate eggs; control of fungus on developing eggs; evaluation of mechanical graders Production Economics: comparison of different approaches Water Quality: discovery and identification of an algae that kills catfish; off-flavor; water circulators Nutrition: effects of feed on growth and fattiness of fish; nutritionally induced health problems Food Technology: impedance microbiology for evaluation and safety of processed catfish Behavior: behavioral interactions and feeding behavior Recent Developments in Catfish Aquaculture shows the paradox that exists in catfish farming research. On one hand, extremely sophisticated research is being used to solve complex problems. On the other, the basic method of raising catfish has not yet been determined. Several chapters describe important new developments in the field and will lead to important breakthroughs and developments in the future. This volume is required reading for those conducting catfish research or catfish culture, including university and federal aquaculture researchers as well as students. They will find it useful as a reference guide, and catfish farmers will find it helpful as a guide to recent advances in production technology.

Compiles recent research into catfish culture as presented at the Catfish Research Symposium. The topics covered include nutrition, genetics, water quality management, economics, fish health and pond production systems.

The history of channel catfish farming in the United States serves as a model for the development of pond-based aquaculture industries worldwide. Channel catfish farming is the largest and economically most important aquaculture industry in the United States. In 2003, over 300,000 metric tons (662 million pounds) of channel catfish were processed, representing about half the total United States aquaculture production. Demand for farm-raised catfish is strong, with record processing years in 2002 and 2003. In 22 chapters written by active scientists in the field, Biology and Culture of Channel Catfish comprehensively synthesizes over 30 years of research on this American icon. Throughout the book, fundamental biological aspects of channel catfish are linked to practical culture techniques. Topics include: • Latest information on reproductive physiology, genetics, and breeding • Comprehensive treatment of catfish nutrition, feeds, and feeding practices • Water quality management and pond dynamics • In-depth review of immunology in channel catfish • Practical information on diseases and health management • Techniques for commercial culture, including innovative techniques such as raceways, recirculating systems, and partitioned aquaculture systems • Catfish economics and marketing • Exploration of environmental concerns, including recommended Best Management Practices

The world keeps changing. There are always risks associated with change. To make careful risk assessment it is always needed to re-evaluate the information according to new findings in research. Scientific knowledge is essential in determining the strategy for fish farming. This information should be updated and brought into line with the required conditions of the farm. Therefore, books are one of the indispensable tools for following the results in research and sources to draw information from. The chapters in this book include photos and figures based on scientific literature. Each section is labeled with references for readers to understand, figures, tables and text. Another advantage of the book is the "systematic writing" style of each chapter. There are several existing scientific volumes that focus specially on fish farms. The book consists of twelve distinct chapters. A wide variety of scientists, researchers and other will benefit from this book.

Fish have been a major component of our diet and it has been suggested that fish/seafood consumption contributed to the development of the human brain, and this together with the acquisition of bipedalism, perhaps made us what we are. In the modern context global fish consumption is increasing. However, unlike our other staples, until a few years back the greater proportion of our fish supplies were of a hunted origin. This scenario is changing and a greater proportion of fish we consume now is of farmed origin. Aquaculture, the farming of waters, is thought to have originated in China, many millennia ago. Nevertheless, it transformed into a major food sector only since the second half of the last century, and continues to forge ahead, primarily in the developing world. China leads the global aquaculture production in volume, in the number of species that are farmed, and have contributed immensely to transforming the practices from an art to a science. This book attempts to capture some of the key elements and practices that have contributed to the success of Chinese aquaculture. The book entails contributions from over 100 leading experts in China, and provides insights into some aquaculture practices that are little known to the rest of the world. This book will be essential reading for aquaculturists, practitioners, researchers and students, and planners and developers.

Striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) farming in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, is considered as a major, aquaculture development both in Vietnam and globally. One of the main drivers responsible for the explosive growth of the sector is considered to be the development and commercialisation of techniques for artificial propagation of the species. This chapter looks first at the life-cycle of the striped catfish and historical developments in hatchery technology before going on to discuss induced breeding of catfish in hatcheries together with larval and fry nursing. Finally, harvesting and transportation are described and possible future directions in the sector.

It is a tribute to the vigour of research and development in aquaculture that we are able, in a relatively short time, to provide readers with a second volume in this series, which has such a diversity of high calibre research and developments to report. That the first volume was so well received has been a source of great satisfaction to the editors and supported their conviction as to the need for links to join the research laboratory to the fish farm by making current research available to a wider range of potential users. In this volume. we have changed the balance somewhat towards more specialised subject areas. We make no apology for this. as the modern aquaculture professional is concerned with a wide range of specialisms within the broader content of management and production, and there is every need to present such work in an acceptable format. Furthermore many of these specialised topics have a significance right across the range of production, are often economically criticaL and are therefore of con siderable and widespread importance. The first contribution. by Dr Derek Robertson, manager of the Institute of Aquaculture's Howietoun Fish Farm, covers just such a subject.