Fish Farming Flashcards
What do farmers feeding fish and why?
Farmers feed the fish a high lipid and protein food to promote rapid growth. As well as regular feeding with small amounts so that most gets eaten
Why do we fish farm?
To keep up with demand.
What problems face fish farmers?
Problem 1: Interspecific competition
Problem 2: Predation
Problem 3: Infectious diseases
Problem 4: Intraspecific competition
What is interspecific competition?
Different species will compete for food and some species may be wiped out
Solution to interspecific competition?
Place different species in different ponds, tanks, etc. Use nets to separate species and wild / farmed populations
Solution to predation?
Farmers place a net over ponds to reduce predation from birds.
What is intraspecific competition?
Larger individuals will out-compete smaller individuals for food or larger individuals may prey on smaller individuals.
Solution to intraspecific competition.
Separate fish by age and size
Why are infectious diseases a problem?
Infectious disease can spread quickly in fish farms if the fish are too close together.
Solution to infectious diseases?
Remove dead or infected fish quickly and add antibiotics to the water to kill bacteria. Add antifungals or chemicals to kill parasites.
Talk about the effect of antibiotics being given to fish.
Often antibiotics haven’t degraded before human consumption of fish, therefore humans may become resistant to antibiotics.
Why is fish farming effective?
Farmers can monitor:
1) Water quality
2) Temperature
3) Oxygen levels
4) Chlorophyll levels
How do fish farms affect the environment?
1) Fish may escape and out-compete or interbreed with local species reducing biodiversity.
2) Parasites or pathogens can be introduced into ecosystems by farmed fish.
3) Excess feed and waste from fish can cause eutrophication and a reduction in oxygen concentrations in the water.
