Basic Aquaculture Farm Manager Interview Preparation Guide

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Yes - a permit is required to stock fish into any public impoundment, natural waterway, river, billabong, lake, wetland, stream etc

The main species grown in Canada are salmon, mussels, oysters and trout. Canada also produces steelhead, arctic char, Atlantic cod, sablefish, geoducks, Atlantic halibut, quahogs, white sturgeon, tilapia and scallops.

There are a number of courses on aquaculture available, both through Universities and Fisheries Training Institutes like Entebbe Uganda.

EU legislation sets strict rules, including maximum levels for contaminants, to ensure that our food is safe. These limits are the same for both farmed and wild fish whilst a strict system of official controls ensures that only healthy food arrives on our tables whether it comes from the EU or from abroad.

Our aquaculture industry generated $969 million in direct sales in 2006, and well over $1 billion in indirect value to the rural Canadian economy. Salmon accounts for approximately 80 percent of the industry's value.

Fingerlings can be obtained from any hatchery with a license to produce that particular species. We can provide you with fingerlings.

The output of the world's wild fisheries is either steady or declining, yet the human population continues to grow. Aquaculture already supplies half the world's seafood consumed by humans. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization forecasts a global seafood shortage of 50 - 80 million tonnes by 2030, and aquaculture will help meet that growing demand.

No - a permit is not required provided that the farm dam is man-made and located on a private property, and the species to be stocked comply with all of the department's policy.

Shellfish such as mussels and oysters are grown on ropes, poles or table-like structures. They require clean water to feed on the nutrients suspended in the water. Marine fish such as salmon and sea bass are farmed in large net pens suspended from the sea's surface. Freshwater fish such as trout are usually farmed in a series of tanks through which river water is diverted. Other freshwater fish such as carp are farmed in large lakes and ponds.

Most predators, which may include seals, birds of prey and raccoons, are protected by federal or provincial law. The most common control methods are barriers - such as nets, covers or building enclosures - auditory deterrents and removal. Firearms are used only as a last resort.

Approximately 50% of the aquaculture production in the EU is shellfish. Mussels and oysters are the most popular shellfish. Marine fish such as salmon, sea bream and sea bass represent about 27% of our fish farm produce whilst freshwater fish such as trout and carp account for 23% of fish farmed in the EU. The species farmed in the EU are very diverse and include clams, scallops, lobsters, and sturgeon (caviar). Algae production is a developing sector.

Aquaculture as defined by the Fisheries Management Act does require a permit. There are different types of permit depending on the type of activity you are doing, covering everything from hatchery, fish out, land and lease based culture.
More information on the types of permits and the permit application process can be obtained from the department's web site or by talking to staff from the Aquaculture unit. If you only wish to produce fish in farm dams for your own consumption, an aquaculture permit is not required.

Our farm is located in the villages. It was very difficult to competent employees because of the location and the road leading to the farm.

There are aquaponics farms that use wastewater from the fish tanks to fertilize crops while filtering the water. This essentially eliminates a lot of waste while creating a usable by-product. It's a very efficient way to recapture waste products and maximize profits.

Feed conversion ratio (FCR) is calculated from the number of kilograms of feed used to produce one kilogram of fish. Feeding farmed fish is more efficient than feeding land-based animals, and the average FCR for farmed fish is close to 1:1.

Yes, there assuredly is. Tilapia is an internationally traded, high-quality commodity. It is by no means a 'trash fish', as is maasbanker, for example. Tilapia compares favourably with hake in the quality of its flesh and lends itself to preparation in many ways. The traditional rural market is for small, whole, wild-coloured fish of 100g to 300g. The urban end of the market is for red tilapia of 450g to 600g.

Yes, there are a number of aquaculture associations that cover a wide range of aquaculture sectors.

Working with the poor strain but still getting the numbers required.

Farmed and wild salmon have the same ancestors, and are genetically very similar. Salmon farmers select fish that have demonstrated good performance in terms of health, flesh quality and growth, and use these fish as broodstock.

Different types of feeds, mainly distinguished by variations in pellet size, fat and protein content, are used according to the life stage of the fish. Many ingredients are the same as those used in the production of feed for domestic animals, and are all natural products, including oilseed meals, grain products, protein-rich meals of animal origin (fish, poultry), fish and plant oils. Farmed shellfish rely on natural food in the water for their growth, and are not given additional food.

This is where gullible investors fall prey. Before you go into cat fish farming, make sure you know your market or better still make sure you know your buyers and what type of size they buy. For instance it will be difficult for you to get a buyer for a 500g fish if your market environments demands for a 1kg fish and vice versa. However, on average, you should be able to get a size aabout 1kg within 6 months PROVIDED you fed them well and they are raised with the best and healthy practices Read More

Tilapia, Mirror carp are the most appropriate species for stocking.

Oysters and mussels are in high demand and have high survival rates. Both wild and hatchery reared seed for these species are readily available.

I fired quite a number of people. I felt very bad.

There is no evidence to indicate that disease outbreaks at salmon farms have resulted in any increase in diseases in wild salmon. Research indicates that farmed salmon are at a higher risk of contracting a disease from wild fish. The aquaculture industry is strictly regulated and has developed disease vaccines, alternative treatments and good production practices to further reduce the incidence and severity of disease impacts.