Aquaculture Title: What should I consider before starting an Audience: High school students in the Ag 3 class Teacher Objectives: Upon the completion of this unit the learner will be able to: 1. Find reliable aquaculture resources and list bibliographical information 2. List the supplies needed to run an aquaculture operation 3. Identify aquatic organisms which can be raised in an aquaculture environment 4. Explain the financial investment and return of an aquaculture operation 5. Identify the important water quality requirements for an aquaculture operation 6. Demonstrate an understanding of stocking principles Materials Needed: 1. Chalk board and chalk. 2. Access to internet and other resources 3. Resources: Walker, Susan S. Aquaculture: Student Maerials. 1990 http://muextension.missouri.edu/explore/miscpubs/mx0391.htm Motivation: Tell student that they are going camping for the weekend. Have them think-pair-share and list the supplies that they need to prepare for the camping trip (tent, food, tarp, sleeping bags, etc.). What would happen if you went camping unprepared? If I told you were going to the beach for the weekend how would you have prepared differently?(think-pair-share) Preparation is important before we start any new endeavor. You wouldn t prepare for cattle in the same way you prepare for chickens. What would you consider before starting an Subject Matter Procedure Motivation What types of organisms can be raised in an aquaculture Ask students to brainstorm questions they would need to consider before starting an aquaculture operation. Lead the students to state all of the listed
operation? questions. What types of rearing environments are needed for my What will affect my initial investment in an aquaculture operation? What will affect my gross from an What water quality aspects will I need to monitor? What supplies will I need for my Summary/Review: After students have brainstormed question and all of the questions have been listed on the board and recorded in the students notes, assign questions to groups of two or three students. The students are responsible for finding the answer to their question, using multiple sources, and preparing to deliver the information to the rest of the class for the next class period. Take the students to the library so they can access the internet as well as books, magazines, and journals. Ask students questions to check
(the commercial raising of animals and plants that live in water) What categories of organisms can be raised in an (finfish, shell fish, ornamental fish, baitfish, gators, plants, algae) What types or rearing environments are available? (pond, tank or vat, raceways) What water quality aspects will I need to monitor? (Water temperature, saline, oxygen levels, acidity, alkalinity, hardness) for understanding.
Questions and answers: o The commercial raising of animals and plants that live in water. o Goal: increase stock or crop production above the level that would naturally be produced per unit of water area What types of organisms can be raised in an o Finfish: trout, cat fish, carp, tilapia, hybrid striped bass, sturgeon, salmon o Shell fish: clams, mussels, oysters, shrimp, prawns, crayfish o Ornamental fish: coy, gold fish, tropical fish o Baitfish, feeder fish o Gators o Plants: watercress, Chinese water chestnuts o Seaweed (Algae) What types of rearing environments are needed for my o Pond: an artificial water impoundment made of earth sizes vary <1 acre to > 20 acres (large-scale operations like catfish) o Tank or vat: water impoundment made of concrete, steel, fiberglass, or other material smaller than ponds usually stocked at high population density than ponds 1,000 gallons to several thousand gallons (tilapia and hybrid striped bass) o Raceways: Long structure through which water flows from one end to the other vary in length, width, and rate of water flow made from concrete, metal, or earth with plastic lining stocking rate depends on rate of flow (trout, artic char) What will affect my initial invest in an o Depends on size and type o Budget should include: feed, labor, stock, land (if not already owned), pond construction, water supply development and pumping costs, and additional supplies o Type of operation run o $30,000-$200,000, may be less if viable pond already exists What will affect my gross from an o Available markets o Market price o Naturally produced supply
o Type f operation and product o Being able to multi-harvest (fish and plants) o Lack or presence of disease What water quality aspects will I need to monitor? o Water temperature Warm water: 70-90 degrees F Cold water: less than 65 degress F o Saline levels o Oxygen levels o Acidity ph levels o Alkalinity and hardness What supplies will I need for my o Seines, fish cages, hauling tanks, aeration equipment, fish or plant food