Growth Performance of Bluntnose Black Bream, Channel Catfish, Yellow Catfish, and Largemouth Bass Reared in the In‐Pond Raceway Recirculating Culture System

Abstract

In China, the in‐pond raceway system (IPRS) is a novel aquaculture model that was designed to better control water movement to improve water quality and allow for increased stocking density, thus increasing production efficiency and profitability compared to conventional earthen ponds. In this study, two IPRSs were constructed in a 4.13‐ha, annular ecological ditch (circumference waterway) with a mean water depth of 2.5 m. Each raceway (220 m3) consisted of an air‐lift area, a fish culture area, and a waste‐collecting area. The air‐lift system was used to circulate and aerate the water through the culture area, producing a water velocity of 0.03 m/s and a water flow rate of 18 m3/min. This flow rate was equivalent to an average water exchange every 12.2 min for each raceway. Bluntnose Black Bream Megalobrama amblycephala (initial weight = 90 g), Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus (initial weight = 150 g), Yellow Catfish Tachysurus fulvidraco (initial weight = 12 g), and Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides (initial weight = 10 g) were reared at densities of 16.36, 13.64, 4.36, and 1.14 kg/m3, respectively, with duplicate raceways for each fish species in the IPRSs. The experiment duration for these species was 176, 389, 208, and 412 d, respectively. Total harvest weight was 21,840 kg (5,288 kg/ha) for Bluntnose Black Bream, 17,850 kg (4,322 kg/ha) for Channel Catfish, 12,960 kg (3,138 kg/ha) for Yellow Catfish, and 10,750 kg (2,603 kg/ha) for Largemouth Bass. Daily weight gain for the four species was 2.90, 2.31, 0.81, and 1.19 g·fish−1·d−1, respectively, and the feed conversion ratio was 1.50, 1.85, 1.51, and 1.22, respectively. These results indicate a high potential for more controllable and efficient production of fish in the IPRSs. Design and engineering modifications need to be enhanced in the future to improve IPRS production capabilities.

Effects of stocking density on growth, serum parameters, antioxidant status, liver and intestine histology and gene expression of largemouth bass ( Micropterus salmoides ) farmed in the in‐pond raceway system

“…At the start of trial, fish with an initial body weight of (4.50 ± 0.23) g were randomly distributed into nine raceways (22 × 5 × 2.5 m, water depth 2.0 m; Wang, Xu, et al, 2019) at three stocking densities of 0.2 (LSD), 0.4 (MSD) and 0.6 (HSD) kg/m 3 , namely 10,000, 20,000 and 30,000 ind/raceway respectively. Each density was tested in triplicate.…”

“…In recent years, we modified and upgraded the IPRS culture technology. Compared with traditional static pond culture, the new culture model has the advantages of maximum water utilization, high production efficiency, low water and chemical pollution and more manageable (Wang, Xu, et al, 2019). Moreover, fish farmed in IPRS had pleasant flavour, better flesh quality and high nutrition value (Harimana et al., 2019).…”

Assessment of Aquatic Environmental Parameters of In-Pond Aquaculture System

“…The rapid expansion and intensification of aquaculture have led to major concerns over the last two decades (Wang et al, 2019), including the limitations of land and water resources, the disruption of aquatic ecosystems, frequent disease outbreaks, the unregulated discharges of wastewater, and the quality and safety of final products (Cao et al, 2007). Aquaculture effluent is the prime issue of water quality deterioration but an increase in yields with a low level of effluent can be achieved by the use of high-quality feeds (better utilized, resulting in less waste) in aquaculture per unit yield (Cho et al, 1994).…”

Effect of flowing water on the pharmacokinetic properties of norfloxacin in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) after single‐dose oral administration

“…Channel catfish ( Ictalurus punctatus ) are an economically important freshwater fish in China and are widely bred because of their high adaptability, fast growth rate, strong disease resistance and high yield (Wang et al., 2019 ). In addition, this fish species is produced on a large scale in RASs.…”