AS108: AQUACULTURE

LECTURE 02: Site Selection for Aquaculture

 Proper selection of the site to be developed Climate

into a fish farm or hatchery is important for the success
of an aquaculture farm. Important climatological factors:
Factors to be considered in Site Selection  mean monthly temperature
 mean monthly rainfall
I. Ecological Factors
 mean monthly evaporation
Water Supply  mean monthly humidity
 Sufficient quantity and adequate quality.  mean monthly sunshine
 Minimum water supply should be 5 L/sec/ ha of pond  mean monthly wind speed and direction
throughout the year.
Pattern of precipitation (maximum in any 24 hours) and
 If rainfall runoff is used, a reservoir is needed (10 to 15
incidence of high winds, heavy storms or cyclones.
ha to 1 ha of pond)
 Drainage system should be considered. Gravity Hydrological Characteristics
drainage of the ponds is preferable.
 Sources may be irrigation canal, river, creek, reservoir,  Can be obtained from National Irrigation Administration
lake, spring, rainfall runoff and dug or deep wells and PAG-ASA.
(expensive).  Data for discharge, yield, floods and water elevations of
existing water sources (rivers, irrigation channels,
reservoirs, springs, etc.).
Soil Characteristics

 Test pit measuring 0.80×1.50x1.50-2.0 m, depending on

the land form and the elevation of the water table, should
be dug in each hectare of the site.
 Sandy clay to clayey loam is the best type of soil both for
pond construction and growing natural foods at the pond
bottom.
 Chemical analysis of the soil in the test pits.
 The pH, available nutrients such as phosphorus,
potassium, organic carbon and nitrate, etc., are
determined by chemical analysis of soil.
Water Quality
 Consider physical, chemical, biological and micro-
biological properties, including health hazards.
 From a production point of view, emphasis should be
placed on the following:
 Physical properties - temperature, color, odor, turbidity,
transparency, suspended solids.
 Chemical properties - pH, dissolved oxygen,
biochemical oxygen demand, free carbon dioxide,
alkalinity, salinity, dissolved solids, ammonia, pollutants
from agriculture.
 Biological properties - quality and density of plankton.
 Micro-biological properties - species and quantity of
parasites.

Soil Texture
Instructor: Dr. Maureen Supan
3 Irreg Transcriber: Ethan Joseph A.
 Comparative size of sands, silt and clay.

 The shape and size of available land should be

considered.

II. Biological and Operational factors

 Species to be cultured
 Resources and availability of stocking materials
(spawners, fry or fingerlings)
 Type of project
 small-scale rural project
 large-scale rural project
 System of culture adopted
 extensive
 semi-intensive
Land  intensive
 Operational method
 Should be with slopes not steeper than 2 percent.
 monoculture
 polyculture
 integrated
 Production target
 Estimated size of area required
III. Economic and Social Factors

 proximity to all-weather road connections

 determination of demand
 availability of inputs
 Land elevation and flood level are important factors.  Suitable communications
 Protection from natural disasters
 Availability of skilled and unskilled labor
 Security