Introduction to Tilapia Farming

Introduction to Tilapia Farming

by Mike Sipe edited with permission
By John Musser

Outside of the United States and in many areas of this country malnutrition is a way of life. In most cases this malnutrition is due to the unavailability of low cost proteins such as lysine and others. Home fish farming offers a solution to the availability of an affordable source of fish. Part of this solution requires knowledge of how to grow, harvest, purge, process, prepare and cook fish, and preserve fish. The farmed fish will be healthy and acceptable in many forms to those who would like to include more fish in their diets. Fish are very high in lysine and very small amounts of fish in the diet can go a long way toward creating longer, healthier and more enjoyable lives by supplying the body’s protein needs.

Tilapia – An Ideal Fish for Aquaculture:
The name tilapia is a taxonomic name (genus) given to a group of fish that belong to the cichlid family of fishes. The cichlids populate many of the tropical and semi-tropical areas of the world and have many things in common with each other, but there are major differences between most of them and the tilapias. The Tilapias are one of the major groups of food fishes around the
world, especially in the tropical and semi-tropical areas, and have been cultivated for thousands of years. Pictures or carvings appear on artifacts and monoliths in Egyptian tombs as far back as 2,000 BC, but only in the last 50 years have we began to focus on developing them as an alternative to harvesting wild fish. The tilapias have a number of special capabilities. Some of these capabilities occur in one fish or another, but seldom occur within the same fish. The fact that all of these characteristics occur within the same fish is what makes tilapia a very good fish for home aquaculture.

These capabilities include:

FILTER FEEDING: The tilapia have tiny combs located on their gills, called gill rakers, that allow them to remove organisms from water passing through their gills. Tilapia can filter organisms as tiny as 3 microns, which is about the size of human blood cells. This filtering is
so efficient that it can be compared with the best swimming pool filters in removing microbes from the water.

EFFICIENT DIGESTION: The acid content in the tilapia stomach is one of the strongest known and allows them to efficiently digest a wide range of microbes, including diatoms, bacteria, fungi and other organisms, by simply dissolving their cell walls. Tilapia feed on dead
leaves and organic debris that fall to the bottom of a pond. Tilapia have been shown to be able to digest up to 70% of the “mud” as it passes through their gut.

STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEM: When well fed and kept in warm water, tilapia are resistant to diseases. This means that for the beginner and the experienced fish farmer, we a least do not have to worry about losses of fish due to strange diseases, such as those found in catfish, trout, and most other fish.

FREQUENT BREEDING AND MOUTH BROODING: At temperatures of 85 degrees F, they can produce baby tilapia (fry) almost every week year round. The mouth brooding and maternal protection of the fry helps to create a high survival rate. This combination of continuous production and high survival rate, allows the tilapia farmer to have a constant supply of fingerlings to replace those that get big enough to eat.

REASONS FOR GROWING FISH AT HOME
The reasons for growing tilapia at home are many and include some
of the following:

(1) Family Diet Improvement-Nutrition Since the tilapia provide a high quality meat source that is high in protein and very low in fat, they provide an ideal meal in terms of a balanced amino acids and protein intake.

(2) Extra Income Since it is so easy to learn to produce tilapia at home it is possible to produce more than the needs of the family in a small space. These extra tilapia can be sold as fry,
fingerlings or eating fish when there are more than needed.

(3) Lower Food Cost for Family Waste from the tilapia growing tank can be used to grow organic vegetables and the kitchen waste can be ground and fed back to the tilapia. This recycling of energy and nutrients allows you to create a sustainable production system.

A. Recycling food & vegetable waste lower the cost of the feed needed to raise the fish. The recycled waste provides much more food per pound when fed to the fish than when
used to make compost.

B. Feeding the fish cost less than buying fish. Even when supplemental fish foods are purchased from feed suppliers, the cost of the feed required to produce one pound of tilapia is far less than to buy the same amount of fish in the grocery store.

(4) Lower Cost for Animal Food The tilapia by product, such as the scales, bones, and stomach contents make excellent feed supplements for other farm animals such as chickens or hogs, at
a much lower cost than buying the feeds for them.

(5) Education Working and playing with the tilapia breeding system,
water systems, air systems, feeding programs and many other
activities provide many opportunities for learning the basics in
science and social fields.

For instance the breeding and maternal care, and the aggression and territorial behavior provide opportunities to understand the basics of the establishment of animal social systems. The measurement of water quality parameters provides opportunities to understand basic water chemistry. The physical dissolving of the oxygen in the water provides an opportunity to understand the mechanics of air compression, expansion, water air interfaces and what it means to dissolve a gas into water. The processing of the waste water provides an opportunity to learn about suspended solids, dissolved solids and the role of bacteria and other aquatic organisms in
keeping the water clean and suitable for growing fish.

(6) Entertainment Watching the fish in the breeding and growing tanks allows for countless hours of enjoyment as they perform their mating and territorial rituals. This is one reason I
recommend that each new breeder setup be put indoors in a suitable place where it will be viewed often during the day and evening so that the fish can be enjoyed while learning from them.

Edited by John Musser with written permission from Mike Sipes manuel: FISH FARMING AT HOME FOR FUN AND PROFIT. See intro. To John Musser for Mike’s information or go to http://www.cherrysnapper.com

Introduction to John Musser

Hello my name is John Musser. I love aquaculture systems: Bio-ponics, Hydroponics, “the raft system” and more but I still really love earth systems also. But “intensive grow systems,” that require far less space than the traditional garden. Then everything we grow in our earth systems is fertilized with fish waste of one form or another. Which we will talk about in future articles.

Our Tilapia farm has drawn hundreds of visitors for some 25 foreign lands in the last 60 days alone. From Zulu land to Israel. We now have consultant’s visiting us on a regular basis to exchange ideas. The world is ready for Aquaculture and Intensive Earth grow systems today. We can help you!

I will be breaking up some articles that have been written by the best of the best in Aquaculture plus organic Earth systems that require little space.For this blog I will introduce some of my friends as time passes one by one. Some are my mentors and associates in the field I Appreciate so much and is so urgently needed around the world.

One is Mike Sipe is an Aquaculture consultant and has been in the Tilapia production and genetic improvement and breeding business for over 35 years.Mike has traveled to many other countries including Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Peru, Mexico, Honduras, Columbia, Venezula, Panama and has helped set up many tilapia farms. He has developed new methods of growing tilapias intensively using pure oxygen.

You can check out Mike at: cherrysnapper.com

I will be breaking down into some bit sized chucks approiate
Portions of his HATCHERY MANUAL FOR FUN AND PROFIT

Black Soldier Fly -article #1

About 120,000 different species of flies annoy folks around the world. They are found everywhere including the Antarctica. Sometimes it is hard to remember that flies are an integral part of our ecosystems.

Flies can be beneficial and necessary, aiding in controlling other insect pests, acting as pollinators, recyclers and scavengers, and they are also a part of the food chain. Remember only bees (and a few wasps) pollinate more plants than flies.

The multi-beneficial black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is probably the best-known member of the Stratiomyidae family in the Diptera order. Diptera is taken from the Greek "di," which means two, and "ptera" meaning wings, as most flies only have two wings. Aristotle used the term more than 2300 years ago. In the order, Diptera, the word "fly" is always separate from the rest of the common name. Insects of other fly orders are always written as one word, such as dragonflies and sawflies. But we digress. The black soldier fly is one of a group of true flies. They are found mostly in the tropical/subtropical Western Hemisphere and Australia, breeding in compost, manure and outdoor toilets.

Black soldier flies can be seen in bright, sunlit areas, resting on nearby structures or vegetation and frequenting flowers of the daisy and carrot families. They are one of the most beneficial flies in existence and are considered non-pests. The adult black soldier fly does not have mouthparts and does not feed upon waste. They do not bite, and as only the larva feed, are not associated with transmitting any diseases. Also, this species makes the breeding areas of houseflies less desirable.

The hale and hearty adults are about 7/8-inch long. Adult black soldier flies are weak fliers and will spend their time resting in and around animal production facilities. They are black with dusky wings held over their backs when reposing. The black soldier fly's first abdominal segment has two clear areas near its second segment giving it a "wasp waist".
Gender-wise, the female's abdomen is reddish at the top and the male's abdomen is rather bronze. Their upper legs are black with white-yellow tarsi or forelegs. Black soldier fly's antennae are elongated, projecting forward from the head, which is tapered and does not have an arista (sensory organ of touch).

Adult black soldier flies might be mistaken for an organ pipe mud dauber wasp as both have long antennae, the same pale colored tarsi, and the two small transparent areas in the abdominal segments. Adults appear as early as April but many do not emerge until late summer. However, it is the black solider fly's larva that is of most interest.

This species mates in flight and females deposit egg masses (about 500 eggs) near edges of decaying organic matter. Eggs incubate anywhere from four days to three weeks before hatching. The oval egg can be up to 0.039 inches in length. Initially the egg is a cream color but darkens over time. Once hatched, the larva is an off-white and about 0.07 inch long.
As it develops through six instars, it becomes a reddish-brown. Mature larva can be anywhere from 1/8 to over an inch in length and quite plump. Larvae have been described as "torpedo-shaped and slightly flattened" with an exoskeleton, or skin, that is firm, tough, and leathery, and its back has spiracles (breathing pores). The yellow to black head is tiny and narrow.
What is of interest is that larvae are being used in manure management. Not only does the black soldier fly larva do its duty in manure reduction, but carries through as a feed supplement, and battles bravely in the war of pest fly control. Best of all, this is all interwoven. Read on, as this is really cool stuff.

First off, manure management reduces environmental damage that can result from large accumulations of manure. Black soldier fly larvae are scavengers and thrive on many kinds of decomposing organic matter, including algae, carrion, compost heaps, manure, mold, plant refuse, and the waste products of beehives. They have large and powerful chewing mouthparts allowing them to shred and devour waste. These gluttonous little creatures are able to digest organic compound before the compounds have time to decompose, thereby immediately eliminating odor. The black soldier fly larva's digestive system leaves behind a fraction of the original weight and volume of waste.

Statistically, food waste in the United States, could be significantly reduced and waste reduction of farm animals (chickens and pigs) might even reach 75%.

Simply put, manure is rapidly decomposed by the black soldier fly larvae, greatly reducing the amount and odor, along with any potential disease problems.

Secondly, this non-pest larvae converts the manure's nutrients into 42% protein and 35% fat feedstuff.

This conversion of waste into feedstuff is called bioconversion and, consequently, the larvae can be fed right back to the animals or birds that generated the waste or used as feed for fish or livestock. It can be ground up and fed to earthworms or red worms for a second round or just used as compost. The larva is dry, friable, and odorless. In addition, many experts believe that the high calcium content of the larvae (also called "phoenix worms") may halt or reverse the effects of metabolic bone disease. This biomass, of larvae harvested nutrients, is worth about the same as meat and bone or fishmeal. It can be easily and economically transported, unlike unprofitable manure, and reduces the need to import concentrates that are added to other types of feed.

Thirdly, the larva's eating style discourages the development of pest flies.

As large populations of black soldier fly larvae churn manure, they make it more liquid and less suitable for, not only egg-laying (oviposition) by the pest fly, but the actual development of the pest fly's larvae, thus reducing them substantially.

As a side note, at one time in the southern United States, the black soldier fly was called the "privy fly" as it controlled the common housefly around the privy. Again, leave these tough little flies alone and allow them soldier on with their job in waste management, as a feed supplement, and protecting us against "pes(t)ky" flies.

Duckweed and Tilapia

Duckweed -- a potential high-protein feed resource for domestic animals and fish", by R.A. Leng, J.H. Stambolie and R. Bell, Centre for Duckweed Research & Development University of New England Armidale, NSW Australia, Livestock Research for Rural Development, Volume 7, Number 1, October 1995 -- "... duckweeds yield 10-30 ton DM/ha/year (dry matter per hectare per year) containing up to 43% crude protein, 5% lipids and a highly digestible dry matter.

Duckweeds have been fed to animals and fish to complement diets, largely to provide a protein of high biological value. Fish production can be stimulated by feeding duckweed to the extent that yields can be increased from a few hundred kilograms per hectare/year to 10 tonnes/ha/year." The Integrated Tilapia & Duckweed Farming System -- The fish and the waters of the tilapia growout ponds provide the nutrients upon which the duckweed will thrive. In turn, the duckweed removes unwanted nutrients and waste products from the system, converting the nutrients into plant biomass.

This plant biomass, in turn, becomes a high protein food for the tilapias. While all this is going on, water within the integrated system is conserved and purified. The entire system is a natural and sustainable approach to aquaculture.

Duckweed Aquaculture -- A New Aquatic Farming System for Developing Countries, Paul Skillicorn, William Spira & William Journey, (1993) The World Bank -- "The PRISM Group initiated a pilot project in Bangladesh to develop farming systems for duckweed and to test its value as a fish feed. The results of the pilot operations were extremely promising; production of duckweed-fed carp far exceeded expectations, and dried duckweed meal provided an excellent substitute for soy and fish meals in poultry feeds. Duckweed could be grown using wastewater for nutrients, or alternatively using commercial fertilizers. Duckweed-fed fish production does not depend on mechanical aeration and appears to be significantly more productive and easier to manage than traditional pond fish culture processes."

Evolution of Aquaponics

Evolution of Aquaponics

by Scott Jones

Aquaponics is an intricate circular chemical sequence often described, in a simple manner, as, “you feed the fish, the fish feed the plants and the plants clean the water for the fish.” On a grand scale Mother Nature uses aquaponics to make the world grow. Without natural aquaponics (in our ponds, streams and fields) we simply could not exist here on earth.

History of Aquaponics:
Other than Mother Nature’s natural aquatic eco systems, aquaponics first appeared at least 1,500 years ago in China. One entrepreneur got tired of dragging feed out to the ducks, the finfish and the catfish. He stacked the ducks in cages above the finfish and moved the catfish downstream from the finfish. Now when he fed the ducks their droppings and uneaten food fell into the water with the finfish. The finfish ate and “processed it.” The wastes from the finfish flowed downstream and sank to the bottom, giving food to the catfish which are natural bottom feeders and scavengers. The processed feed and anything that the catfish missed was channeled out to the fields to feed the rice crop. He fed once and harvested four times. The only drawback was that it was outdoors, so it got cold. Everything froze up for 5 months of the year. The theory was good but the execution left a little to be desired.

The Inca’s of Peru practiced a different style of aquaponics before the Conquistadors arrived. They dug oval ponds near their mountain dwellings, leaving an island in the center. After the ponds filled, they added fish. Geese flew in, harvested their meals from the water and relaxed on the island. Their droppings and fish scraps quickly turned the island into a super rich, high quality garden. Now not only did the Inca’s have the geese doing the fertilizer work, they also had fresh fish readily at hand and a moat around each garden to keep out hungry prowlers. Plus the mini pond/island system created a local micro-climate that stayed a little warmer than the surrounding mountains, giving extra days of harvest every year. The production from the Inca aquaponic systems fed more people per square mile than any type of farming to this day, in that same type of high arid land.

Aquaponics today:
Aquaponics is back in the news today, not because it’s the “newest rage,” but because it solves many of the vexing problems that strike traditional soil-based growers worldwide.
Water is a scarce commodity. Without clean drinking water humans don’t thrive. And yet, up to ¾ of our fresh water is used to water crops and then it rapidly drains away. Not only is the farmer’s hard-earned money draining away into the ground but, also, as the water drains away, it collects fertilizers and farm chemicals, leaching them into the ground water (our drinking water). The excess fertilizers and chemicals flow into our rivers and bays causing algae-blooms and killing the aquatic life. Roughly 10% of the chemicals that a soil farmer spreads on his fields are actually taken up by his plants, the rest goes on to wreak havoc on the natural life down-stream.

Modern aquaponics recycles water, reusing this valuable resource. The air is also recycled. The fish give off carbon dioxide (CO2) as they “breathe”. The plants take in the CO2, strip off the carbon (C) to build their leaves and release the remaining oxygen (O2) molecules. That oxygen-rich air is filtered and then blown into the water for the fish to recycle. In every aquaponic system wastes in one part of the system are utilized as a resource in another part.

Pollution is drastically reduced because the water and the wastes contained therein are recycled instead of being dumped into the ground water. The fish and plants are grown in intensive, aboveground systems. As a result, food is produced without the loss of valuable flatlands. Most aquaponic growers are inside a greenhouse, so by simply adding light and heat, the grower has the ideal growing season every day of the year. With the aquaponic operation inside a greenhouse, the need for pesticides and herbicides is minimized. Cultured beneficial insects will eat the occasional bug that manages to get past the walls of the greenhouse. The tightly controlled hydroponic section of the operation is naturally weed-free.

Size of the commercial aquaponic industry:
The controlled environment (greenhouse) commercial aquaponic industry is in its infancy, both in the U.S. and around the world. Currently there are less than five large-scale (+1 acre) facilities around the world and only two in the U.S. While several smaller operations are scattered around the country, most are on the “family farm” scale, rarely exceeding ¼ acre.

Methods of operation:
All large-scale aquaponic operations are using either Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) or floating bed hydroponic systems combined with either rectangular or round fish culturing tanks. Most small-scale aquaponic operations are using the simpler Ebb & Flow hydroponic systems with small round fish culturing tanks.

Crops Grown...Fish:
Several species of fish have been cultivated successfully in aquaponic systems. Current technology limits the choices to fresh-water species, though recent research has shown promise on medium salt-water (brackish water) species such as Hybrid Striped Bass and shrimp. By far the largest share of the aquaponic fish market, in both pounds harvested and number of commercial operations, goes to Tilapia. Tilapia has several attractions for
commercial operation: they have a short cycle from birth to harvest (6-9 months), tolerate drastic swings in water quality and are tolerant of low oxygen levels for extended times. Unfortunately, the farm-gate price, direct to wholesalers or haulers, is barely above the break-even costs. Tilapia is a great species with which to start a system, but a poor choice for the long-term operation of a viable commercial facility.

For long-term economic viability and to lessen the threat of catastrophic disease loss, a mixture of species is advisable. Prices for fish fluctuates by species. While one species is high, another is low. Sudden inflow of fish from overseas markets can drop a profitable species of domestically grown fish down to, at best, a break-even point in less than a year. Disease is often species-or-cultural-condition-specific. What will devastate one species will often totally pass over a different species in the next tank.

Presently all commercial aquaponic facilities and nearly all aquaculture facilities produce food fish. Potential new markets are likely in ornamental pond fish and in aquarium fish markets, both of which are forecast to grow dramatically as more people stay home and invest in their private space since the events of 9-11-01.

Crops Grown...Plants:
Nearly all plants can grow in an aquaponic system but only a few have been tested and proven to be economically viable. For the most efficient operation of a commercial aquaponic facility, a steady condition must exist between the pounds of fish (including the relation to fish feed) in the system and the poundage of plants in order to prevent toxicities and deficiencies of various elements from developing over time for both the fish and the plants.
The plants used in large-scale operations must have the same nutrient needs the entire way through its life cycle (i.e. lettuce needs high Nitrogen (N) levels at all life stages). Fruiting plants such as tomatoes and peppers need high nitrogen for good initial vine growth, then low N and a high Phosphorous (P) and Potassium (K) levels for good fruit development. Customized commercial fish feed blends are not available with variable NPK ratios. Therefore, since it is the fish feed that ultimately determines the fertilizers fed to the plants, only plants that thrive on high N levels are suitable for commercial production with today’s technology. The near future looks to change this one-step approach. Custom mini-mills and extruders, along with advanced adjustable formulas of feed, may soon produce cost-effective feed for maximized growth of fish and plant, no matter what the stage of growth of the fish and the plants.
Suitable commercial crops for aquaponics that require high N are greens such as lettuces, mints, and culinary herbs.

Other potential crops for commercial production are medicinal herbs and plants and, also, plants grown for their essential oils used in manufacturing and pharmacology. Holopathic medicine has seen a 30 year up-swing into wide-spread acceptance limited, in part, by the unavailability of fresh (as opposed to dried) plants on a year-round basis, which could be solved by greenhouse production. New plants are discovered almost daily that have pharmacological properties but are normally available only in small quantities and often in far-off lands. Aquaponic greenhouse production guarantees a consistent, high quality source of the plants that the pharmacological market craves.

Integration of technology:
Successful commercial aquaponic operations in the future will rely in part on three major modern technologies: co-generation of power and heat, tissue culture for plant propagation and advanced year-round breeding (most species of fish -other than Tilapia- are normally seasonal in their spawning). Controlled environment or greenhouse cultivation of high-value plants and fish requires a large amount of electricity available year-round without interruption for production lighting, ventilation and mechanization. Heat requirements can rise to as much as 40% of wintertime operating costs. Recent development of small, private, distributed grid electrical generators that sell excess electricity back to the main power grid, offer both constant and cheap electrical power that is readily available on-site.

Other means of heating and power generation, such as solar or geo-thermal, can serve as back-up or supplemental reserve. The grower normally has to pay for both heat and power. With co-generation he pays for the electricity and gets the heat for free, or vice-versa. Tissue culture is the science of cultivating and replicating thousands of plants from one individual plant segment. Also referred to as cloning, tissue culture gives the ability to chose an ideal plant with the exact characteristics desired and to create in a short amount of time countless replicates of that plant. Using various techniques, small plantlets can be stored for many months and then brought to full luxuriant growth when the market is ripe.

When combined with modern gene splicing techniques, custom-designed plants can be quickly mass-produced for specific pharmacological characteristics or for adaptation to different cultural requirements of the end user (i.e. plants modified for higher growth rates or more resistance to a rapidly changing environment). Most commercial species of fish, both food fish and ornamental fish, are only available as fry at specific times of the year. Without easy availability to fry year-round, producers are forced to adhere to a yearly cyclical production schedule upsetting the balance between fish and plants and forcing the dumping of the fish onto the market at the same time that other producers are . . . resulting in price drops.

New propagation techniques are now available which give the commercial grower the ability to breed most species of fry at any time of the year to meet projected demands. Breeding in-house also helps assure bio-security since the disease and parasite status of the fish is known from day one, greatly lowering the chance of a loss of the crop.

Aquaponics is leaping onto the radar screen of the general population. It conserves our priceless groundwater. It eliminates our exposure to harmful farm chemicals on and in our food. It produces safe, full-flavored food year-round, often in close proximity to highly populated areas. It adapts very readily to the latest advances in plant and fish propagation . . . and it hooks the customer’s interest (and pocketbook) like no other form of food production. It sells itself because it is unique and natural. Aquaponics will be one of the major methods of food production in the coming centuries!

What is Aquaculture?

What is Aquaculture?

Robert B. Freeman


"It means farming fish" that answer wouldn't be wrong, but it isn't totally right either. You can't really give a just description of a diverse industry with a quick answer. Perhaps the following will better serve as a description of this industry.

Aquaculture is an industry that encompasses the cultivation of aquatic plants and animals in controlled systems for commercial, recreation or resource management purposes. The most widely accepted short definition of Aquaculture is the cultivation of any aquatic (freshwater and marine) species of plant or animal.

Aquaculture for food production is similar to other forms of animal husbandry, the animals are cared for, protected and fed with the intention of increasing their quantity and value. The holding and farming of fish also reduces the effort otherwise required to locate and capture supplies from wild stocks. Fish farming has boosted consumer confidence in product quality while helping to ensure more orderly and timely harvesting / distribution of fresh seafood products.

Aqua Farming, like agriculture in general, is an industry born out of necessity. Humankind invented agriculture to meet the food demands of an ever increasing population, (we needed to farm crops and animals). Reliance on hunting and gathering from wild resources alone could not, cannot and will not sustain our need for food. Fish and shellfish are no exception, indeed many wild fish stocks that were once considered to be "vast and endless", are now over fished and labeled as unsustainable in their present state.

Why farm fish?

The need to solve planetary over fishing of wild fish stocks represents the inherit requirement for aqua farming. Our ability to feed ourselves remains an issue of paramount importance. In simple terms we must find a way to make more from what we have. One way to do that is to increase the resource performance and enhance supplies. Farming helps to bridge that gap.

Fish Farming is a versatile and flexible industry encompassing a wide range of methods designed to meet various needs and to fulfill different purposes. Hatchery production of young fish to restock lakes, streams and oceans is a form of aquaculture that has provided immense benefits by enhancing wild fish populations. Subsistence aqua farming of fish and aquatic plants has provided nourishment in many impoverished regions, while commercial level fish farming has augmented wild supplies and reduced fishing pressures.

This flexibility of aquaculture can be seen when we look closely at it's make up. We can quickly realize that fish farming is carried out at various scales or levels of activity; ranging in size from a hobby farm pond for personal or community use, to a large commercial venture where production is measured in tonnes.

Regardless of the scale, we should also understand that all levels of practice includes some form of intervention in the rearing or growing process. That intervention has to involve human input intended to enhance animal production in the form of regular stocking, feeding, environmental management and protection from predators and/or disease. All of which are fundamental principals of aqua farming.

There are many "wild fish stocks" that are residents of our streams and rivers today, that owe their continual existence to the fundamental practice of aquaculture. The same fundamental practices of enhancing and encouraging existing fish stocks that began ages ago.

History of Aquaculture

Aquaculture is not a new industry, nor is it an untested concept. The care and farming of fish is rooted in ancient history. The earliest records of fish farming are from Asia (China) where the practice was used often, perhaps as far back as 2500 BC. This early farming activity involved capturing fish, mainly carps, after river floods and holding them in artificial lakes and ponds. Using a form of polyculture, the fish were fed using the nymphs and byproducts of silkworm farming.

This ancient Chinese practice was a simple yet ingenious form of sustainable farming, designed to increase food supplies while diminishing the environmental effects of another farm activity. The value of the animals were increased and accomplished by utilizing by-products that would "today" often be considered waste in much of the western world. Is it "a wonder" that some 80% of the world's fish farming activities still take place in Asia?

The Bible refers to fish ponds and sluices (Isaiah, Chapter 19, verse 10), and Hieroglyphics illustrate that the Egyptians of the Middle Kingdom (2052-1786 B.C.) developed ornamental fish ponds and attempted intensive fish culturing. Research indicates that the Roman's were quite adept in raising fish in ponds and also cultivated oysters. The Hawaiian people practiced aquaculture by constructing fish ponds, an example from ancient Hawaii is a pond at Alekoko dating back at least 1000 years.

MORINGA THE MIRACLE TREE!

Edible leaves and flowers! Grows quickly with little maintenance in sandy soil. Drought tolerant! Dry leaves and flowers for tea, or substitute for oregano or parsley in your favorite recipes to add valuable nutrition.


Also known as the Horseradish Tree, Ben Tree, Benzolive, Malunggay and Drumstick Tree. Excellent feed for cows, horses, goats and humans!



The Moringa tree grows mainly in semi-arid tropical and subtropical areas, corresponding in the United States to USDA hardiness zones 9 and 10. While it grows best in dry sandy soil, it tolerates poor soil, including coastal areas.

It is a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree that is native to the southern foothills of the Himalayas, Africa and the Middle East. Today it is widely cultivated in Africa, Central and South America, Sri Lanka, India, Mexico, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Considered one of the world’s most useful trees, as almost every part of the Moringa tree can be used for food, or has some other beneficial property.

• In the tropics it is used as forage for livestock.



• And in many countries, Moringa is used as a micronutrient powder to treat indigenous diseases.



• A traditional food plant in Africa, this little-known vegetable has potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable landcare.



• The immature green pods, called “drumsticks” are probably the most valued and widely used part of the tree. They are commonly consumed in India, and are generally prepared in a similar fashion to green beans and have a slight asparagus taste.



• The seeds are sometimes removed from more mature pods and eaten like peas or roasted like nuts.



• The flowers are edible when cooked, and are said to taste like mushrooms.



• The leaves are highly nutritious, being a significant source of beta-carotene, Vitamin C, protein, iron and potassium. The leaves are cooked and used like spinach. In addition to being used fresh as a substitute for spinach, its leaves are commonly dried and crushed into a powder, and used in soups and sauces.



• Murungakai as it is locally known in Tamil Nadu and Kerala is used in Siddha medicine. Its leaves are full of medicinal properties.



• The tree is a good source for calcium and phosphorus.

• In West Bengal, India The Moringa seeds yield 38–40% edible oil (called ben oil, from the high concentration of behenic acid contained in the oil).



• The refined oil is clear, odorless, and resists rancidity at least as well as any other botanical oil.



• The seed cake remaining after oil extraction may be used as a fertilizer or as a flocculent to purify water.



• The bark, sap, roots, leaves, seeds, oil and flowers are used in traditional medicine in several countries.



• In Jamaica, the sap is used for a blue dye. The flowers are also cooked and relished as a delicacy in West Bengal and Bangladesh, especially during early spring. There it is called sojne ful and is usually cooked with green peas and potato.
  
  This is just the beginning of the virtues of this Miracle tree. As you respond to this article I will seek to show you how this tree can help heal the nations.
  
  John Musser