Source: AMERICAN SPORT FISH HATCHERY MANAGEMENT GROUP LLC submitted to NRP
PRODUCTION OF LARGEMOUTH BASS FOR THE FOOD FISH MARKET USING COMMERCIAL SPLIT-POND SYSTEMS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
SMALL BUSINESS GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1030086
Grant No.
2023-33530-39343
Cumulative Award Amt.
$173,367.00
Proposal No.
2023-01001
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jul 1, 2023
Project End Date
Feb 29, 2024
Grant Year
2023
Program Code
[8.7]- Aquaculture
Recipient Organization
AMERICAN SPORT FISH HATCHERY MANAGEMENT GROUP LLC
8007 TROY HIGHWAY
PIKE ROAD,AL 36064
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
SummaryLargemouth bass (LMB) production for the foodfish market is growing in the US. Traditionally, LMB producers in the US have relied on traditional earthen ponds as their primary production system for culturing this species. Yearly, LMB producers in the southeastern US using traditional earthen ponds as the primary productionunit are plagued by low survival, slow growth, poor food conversion ratio, losses to bird depredation, water quality problems, and several disease issues. LMB producers believe these production-related obstacles inherit theculture in traditional earthen ponds, have translated to reduced efficiency and profitability of domestic LMB farming operations, and are further inhibiting the growth of thisaquaculture sector.Our goal is to determine if the use of a split-pond system (SPS) will be more profitable. The use of SPS has been demonstrated in research settings but it needs to be investigated on a functioning fish farm on a commercial scale. The SPS uses roughly 20% of the pond for fish production and the remaining 80% for water treatment. As a result, feeding is more efficient and water quality is improved. The advantages of the SPS for LMB production can revolutionize the production of this expanding food fish species in the US. This project will evaluate the production performance, water quality, fish health metrics, and the economic feasibility of raising LMB in SPS compared to traditional earthen ponds.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
50%
Developmental
50%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
30737191060100%
Knowledge Area
307 - Animal Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
3719 - Other cultured finfish;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems);
Goals / Objectives
The two main goals of this project are to demonstrate that split pond systems (SPS) are more profitable than traditional earthen pond production for large-mouth bass (LMB) and that the systems lend themselves to expansion and commercialization.Technical Objectives1.) Evaluate production performance of LMB raised in commercial-scale SPS compared to traditional earthen ponds2.) Evaluate water quality and fish health metrics between LMB cultured in commercial-scale SPS andtraditional earthen ponds3) Using enterprise budgets, compare the economic feasibility of raising LMB in commercial-scaleSPS andtraditional earthen ponds
Project Methods
MethodsWe will grow out LMB fingerlings in both split ponds and traditional earthen ponds.The results will be evaluated through statistical analysis of length, weight, water quality, and fish health metrics. The economic feasibility of raising LMB in commercial SPS will be determined using enterprise budgets.

Progress 07/01/23 to 02/29/24

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience is other bass producers. This includes both fingerlings and food fish producers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We were able to provide production, water quality and husbandry training to both our employees and several graduate students. One student was able to present part of the research at a scientific conference. As our program grows, we will be able to promote employees to higher positions based on their experience on this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have already been presented at one scientific conference and several other papers are in the works to be published. We have also reached out to our potential customers to discuss the findings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This is the final period for this grant, but we are busy preparing for Phase II. We are designing new split ponds and setting time and funds aside for construction.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Following ~3 months of culture, survival of stockers cultured in SPS was numerically higher (78.4%) than traditional ponds (58.7%); however, no statistically significant differences were observed. LMB stockers were graded at harvest into three different size classes (>8", 6" to 8", and <6") (Figure 2). At harvest, 78.7% (18,524 individual fish) of LMB cultured in SPS were within the >8" size stocker, compared to 15.4% (2,711 individual fish) for the traditional earthen pond. In the SPS, 19.5% (4,589 individual fish) and 1.8% (416 individual fish) fell within the 6" to 8" and < 6" size categories, respectively. In traditional ponds, the 6" to 8" category had the largest percentage of individual fish (59.5%, 10,482 individual fish), while the <6" category was comprised of 25% of the fish (4,403 individual fish). Water quality was monitored 14 times over the experimental period in the traditional ponds and SPS (in F, W, O zones; Figure 3). For all water quality parameters, the Sampling Date × Pond Type/Location interactions were not significant (allP> 0.05). Therefore, the Sampling Date and Pond Type/Location main effects were interpreted. As expected, water quality changed over the experimental timeline (allP< 0.05). As well, Temperature (P= 0.002), total ammonia nitrogen (TAN;P= 0.0003), and nitrite (P= 0.003) levels differed between the traditional ponds and SPS zones (Figure 3). Together, these results suggest that the waste basin is assimilating waste from the fish culturing zone. Net returns ($/acre/yr) were three times higher in SPS ($37,732) than traditional ponds ($11,917). Total costs ($/acre/yr) were $2,674 more per acre for SPS than traditional ponds. The higher costs of SPS were offset by greater sales revenue resulting from higher survival and a larger share of bass >8". Bass >8" received a higher price of $3.20 per fish compared to $2.40/fish and $2.00/fish for 6" to 8" bass and <6" bass, respectively. The cost of production ($/fish) was $1.42 in SPS and $1.75 in traditional ponds. Profit margins were 53% and 28% for SPS and traditional ponds, respectively.

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