An artificial pond can perform not only a decorative function, but it can also be successfully used for fish breeding. This exciting activity will provide an opportunity to spend your leisure time interestingly. It will also bear fruit in the form of environmentally friendly and, of course, tasty fish. But to achieve the result you will have to work hard, because breeding fish in an artificial reservoir has its own characteristics and secrets that need to be taken into account.
How to correctly determine the size of a reservoir
For an artificial reservoir, you need to choose a place located in the most lowland part land plot. It is also desirable that the pond be in partial shade for most of the day. But at the same time, to create a shading effect, it is not recommended to plant trees directly near the pond. Since fallen leaves will pollute the surface, and their roots can lead to deformation of the size of the reservoir over time.
The depth and width of the pond largely depends on what kind of fish you plan to breed in it. In any case, the pit for the reservoir must be at least one meter deep. And each owner determines the width and length of the pond at his own discretion. It is better to choose a small but deep body of water, since a pool that is shallow and wide around the perimeter will absorb too much oxygen. While oxygen vital for fish. The enrichment of water with it is ensured due to its production by vegetation, as well as due to the mixing of water under the influence of wind and temperature changes.
In winter, to provide the fish with air, you need to make holes in the ice crust, and you can also vertically freeze a bunch of reeds in it, which will become an excellent air conductor.
You also need to take into account that a cramped body of water is not suitable for a too large school of fish, since the water in it will quickly deteriorate from a large amount of food. Therefore, it is necessary to plan the volumes of the future pond based on the fact that one fish ten centimeters long will require about fifty liters of water.
A sufficiently deep reservoir creates successful conditions for wintering fish. But at the same time, in summer the water in it warms up unevenly, which slows down the process of reproduction of microorganisms, which serve as an additional source of food for fish. Also, when determining the volume of a future reservoir, it is necessary to take into account such factors as the area of the water surface without any vegetation and the quality of water purification.
What types of fish are suitable for breeding in artificial reservoirs?
The most unpretentious fish to care for include carp and crucian carp, which is why they are most often bred in artificial reservoirs. In addition, in a self-created pond you can successfully breed cold-water trout, goldfish, and tench.
Carp gets along well even in a small body of water and even grows faster and better in them. This is due to the fact that in a small area it spends much less energy searching for food. An additional advantage of this type of fish is its omnivorous nature. Carp prefers sun and slightly alkaline water. In such conditions, it grows quickly and can reach sexual maturity by the fourth year of life.
A pond up to one and a half meters deep, four meters long and six meters wide is ideal for breeding carp. Moreover, there should be no more than twenty individuals per cubic meter of water. Such parameters provide optimal conditions for their life.
As for crucian carp, standing water with a lot of vegetation is ideal for them. In winter, it is necessary to make ice holes in the pond to ensure the flow of oxygen. The optimal sizes of a pond for breeding crucian carp do not differ from those suitable for carp, so they are often kept in the same reservoir.
And here tench absolutely does not get along with crucian carp. In general, they are very easy to care for and easily adapt to fluctuations in the level of acidity and amount of oxygen in the water. Tench is omnivorous and if the pond is shallow, it can fight with other species of fish, most often carp, for food.
An artificial pond is ideal as a habitat for goldfish. They are unpretentious in food and do not have any special requirements for their habitat. And for their active reproduction, two individuals are enough. In addition, the goldfish looks very beautiful in a pond. Koi, the ornamental Japanese carp, also has exceptional decorative qualities. Their color is striking in variety; there are red, black, white and even yellow species. Moreover it is almost impossible to predict the color of future offspring. Koi prefers fairly spacious and deep water bodies, and spends a lot of time searching the muddy bottom in search of food. This species requires quite a lot of food, and does not refuse small fish.
Making a fish pond
The creation of an artificial reservoir begins with determining its future volumes and preparing a pit. After the pit has been dug, the soil surface must be properly level and tamp well. It is recommended to cement the bottom of the future pond and cover it with a thick polyethylene film. If you use it carefully, it will serve as a reliable basis for many years. If financial capabilities do not allow this option, then you can limit yourself to only one film to cover the bottom. Also, as a budget flooring for the bottom, chambers from trucks are often used, which are pre-glued together.
Modern coating options involve the use of special mats made from coconut or synthetic fiber. Their surface is quickly overgrown with algae, thanks to which they perfectly camouflage the coastal edge.
After the pit is completed, water can be poured into it. Moreover, well or spring water is best suited for this purpose. But this needs to be done gradually, so at first the pond is only one third full. Thus, ideal expansion of the film under the influence of the gravity of water is achieved. The bottom is covered with a layer of river sand, in which a variety of underwater plants are planted. After this, the rest of the water is released into the reservoir.
The final stage in the design of an artificial reservoir is the landscaping of its banks. To give the pond completeness, it is recommended to plant willows, cattails and reeds on its shore. And if the owner of a pond plans to breed crayfish in addition to fish, then he needs to take care of the presence of stones, broken pots, etc. at the bottom. This will enable the crayfish to create a reliable shelter for themselves from fish during the molting period.
Creating a microclimate in the pond
The construction of an artificial reservoir necessarily includes the creation of a microclimate suitable for fish breeding. Therefore, under no circumstances should you immediately add fish to the newly poured water into the pond, because it must settle, warm up and be enriched with the necessary microflora. To speed up this process, you can add several buckets of water from a natural reservoir to it, and put some grass that has already withered at the bottom.
A neutral environment is considered optimal for fish breeding, and the acidity level should remain within seven to eight ph. If it drops to 5 ph, then this adversely affects the life of fish, especially carp and crucian carp. To increase acidity, you need to add a portion of soda or limestone solution to the water. Measuring the acidity level of water should be carried out regularly, and in several places in the reservoir, since the rate of interaction of substances depends on the intensity of sunlight.
A necessary condition for launching fish is to equalize the temperature in the reservoir and the container in which it is kept. If this rule is neglected, the fish may develop temperature shock, from which even adult fish can die in the very first day after being released into the pond.
What to feed the fish?
For fish breeding in an artificial reservoir to be successful? You need to take a responsible approach to feeding them. Carp and tench are rightly considered the most unpretentious in terms of food. These species of fish are omnivores and happily absorb everything that their owner treats them with.
They are fed quite often mixed feed intended for poultry and pigs. Moreover, if bulk or powdered food is used, then directly Before feeding, it must be mixed with pond water until it reaches the consistency of porridge..
For all other types of fish, you can use a mixture of legumes and cereal grains. Moreover, before feeding, they are doused with boiling water, due to which the mixture swells. Also, all fish, without exception, happily accept earthworms and various insects as food. The amount of feed depends on the weight of the fish and should slightly exceed it, but not more than six percent.
It is advisable to feed the fish once or twice a day at the same time. To serve food, it is recommended to choose a shallow place where it is convenient to place a tray or small table. And after finishing feeding, you can pick it up from there without any problems. This approach allows the pond owner to promptly remove the remains of uneaten food, which can quickly spoil the water in the pond.
It is advisable to develop a conditioned reflex in the fish to accept food. This is facilitated by feeding at a set time, as well as the use of other external stimuli, for example, a bell.
Fish farming can be used as the basis for a self-sufficient business.
For reference:
The richest in vitamins, minerals and omega-3 acids are sea fish: pink salmon, chum salmon, cod, haddock, mackerel, pollack. Fatty fish species are of particular importance in the human diet: salmon, herring, mackerel. River fish - carp, carp, bream, crucian carp, perch, pike - are also rich in vitamins and minerals, but are inferior in fat content to sea fish.
The smell of fresh fish is slightly sweet, but not too fishy or muddy. Although some varieties of river fish (for example, catfish) may taste like mud. To get rid of this “aroma”, the fish is specially washed in cold salted water.
Do not ignore the fins: they should fit snugly to the body and not intertwine. If storage conditions have not been met, the fins will be positioned unnaturally and may also be damaged.
The tail of a good fish should be straight, not curled up or dry. The abdomen is flat, not swollen, without spots. If a gutted fish is placed in water, it should drown. This means that you were sold a really good fish. If it floats up belly up, you bought a low-quality product.
When purchasing chilled fish fillets, pay attention to how they are cut. The pieces should be even, and it should look dense.
Sardines (Sardinops sagax).
Tilapia.
Squid (Teuthida).
more about the program
With this material we continue the series of translated articles by Daniel Knowland (translations done independently), Jamie Oliver's scientific consultant on nutrition. The next essay is devoted to the topic of fish and how it is grown and caught in modern conditions, which fish are healthy and which are harmful, and how to choose them correctly. The second part of the post is information on the same topic, in particular about the situation in Russia, it is from other sources (list of references at the end of the post). 
Artificial fish farming - all the pros and cons Today in the UK a huge amount of fish and seafood is grown in artificial conditions. Here it is necessary to make a reservation that any animal products, strictly speaking, are not completely natural, but humanity cannot do without breeding farm animals.
Modern society sets new standards for food consumption, and manufacturers have to take them into account. In this regard, the need arose for artificial fish breeding. In this article we will look at the positive and negative aspects of this activity. What is it for - breeding fish? There are still places on the globe where the main source of food is wild plants and meat of wild animals and birds. However, in developed countries this situation no longer occurs. Berries, mushrooms, hare or venison - these are, perhaps, all the types of “ungrown” products that can be found on the menu of a modern person. We are accustomed to the fact that meat, poultry, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and grains are produced mainly by agricultural enterprises. With fish and seafood the situation is somewhat different. Both commercial fish (caught in the natural environment) and artificially grown fish come to our table. As the world population grows, the demand for products rich in protein and, at the same time, affordable is also increasing. And the word “ocean” is increasingly associated with concepts such as “overfishing,” “endangered fish species,” and “environmental safety.” Indeed, as a result of many years of irresponsible attitude of the fishing industries of many countries towards the environment, the populations of some representatives of marine fauna have decreased significantly. Today, there is an active fight against overfishing. In addition, programs are underway to help consumers choose fish from sustainable sources. The most well-known organization in this area is the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). However, despite some progress made, human activities continue to cause significant damage to the ocean ecosystem. Commercial fish populations continue to decline. This is especially true for such popular species as cod, haddock and tuna. As an alternative to traditional fishing, artificial fish farming has been actively developing over the past few decades (another name for this activity is “aquaculture”). Artificial fish farming in itself , the phenomenon is not new. But currently there is a real boom in this area. And new techniques and technologies can significantly reduce the degree of negative impact on the environment when using this method. What types of fish and seafood are grown in marine farms? Salmon, rainbow trout, sea bass, bream, pangasius (often called basa or river catfish), shrimp are the most common types of farmed fish and seafood. It is believed that today in developed countries, approximately half of all fish and seafood consumed is grown in fish farms. In UK supermarkets and restaurants you are likely to buy or be offered farmed salmon. Commercial salmon is much less common on sale, and it will cost much more. 
What is artificial fish farming? Typically, the artificial breeding process looks like this: 1. Using selection, a parent is selected that is most suitable for artificial breeding. Fish eggs are placed in small tanks. The grown fry are then moved to larger tanks. There the fry are fed and are under constant supervision. 3. When the fry reach a weight of approximately 150 grams, they are moved to large ponds or fenced areas in the sea (such as those shown in the picture above). 4. Next, the fish receives concentrated food until it reaches the desired weight. Throughout the entire period, the condition of the fish is constantly monitored, often using underwater cameras. Once the desired weight is reached, the fish is sent to processing factories for subsequent gutting and packaging. Do all types of artificially farmed fish have similar consumer properties? It is difficult to find two absolutely identical livestock farms. The same can be said about fish farms. Each manufacturer has its own standards to ensure favorable conditions for keeping fish. Each farm uses its own methods to reduce its harmful impact on the environment. However, the lack of uniform standards makes life much more difficult for consumers. Eggs, chicken and pork produced with care for the environment have long ceased to be a rarity on store shelves. A wide range of products are available with Red Tractor, RSPCA Approved, Free Range and Organic labels. But with regard to artificially grown fish and seafood, we do not yet have such a choice. However, despite the lack of clear guidelines when choosing fish (for example, salmon), there is still some help for the buyer. There are various programs and organizations whose goal is to reduce the negative impact of fish farms on the environment. Some of them are listed below:
- RSPCA Assured. This program primarily involves checking fish conditions.
- Global G.A.P. Products bearing this label are tested to ensure they meet food safety and environmental standards. Also, the presence of a program certificate guarantees that the products are obtained from trusted manufacturers.
- “Best Aquaculture Practices” and “Board of Trustees of Fish Farms”
- (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) are comprehensive programs. Their goal is to reduce negative impacts on the environment, ensure environmentally safe and sustainable use of natural resources and improve food safety.
- Association of producers of pure organic products (Soil Association / Organic). This organization is mainly concerned with issues of environmental impact and the use of only organic fertilizers in agriculture.
Many UK retailers join one or more of the programs listed above. In this way, supermarkets demonstrate that they support environmentally friendly food production. How safe is fish farming in terms of environmental impact? Fish farms began breeding salmon in large quantities not so long ago: over the past few decades. However, the industry has developed at a rapid pace. And it was not immediately possible to fully understand the extent of the impact of such activities on the environment and human health. Over the past years, fish farms have made many mistakes. And the mistakes they made did not have the best impact on their reputation. There are known cases of fish escaping from cages. The result was the crossing of artificially bred and wild individuals. Other side effects include marine and underwater pollution, the use of unsustainable fish food, drug overdose and the use of questionable chemicals. The industry is still far from perfect. However, the mistakes of the past have not been in vain, and fish farms are undergoing major changes. New technologies have come to the rescue. Now it is possible to observe the behavior of fish and collect data on the state of the environment. Robotic systems monitor the optimal level of fish feeding and oxygen levels in the water. Much remains to be done to minimize the harm that fish farms cause to the ecosystems of nearby areas. For example, there is an opinion that artificial fish farming in inland waters (i.e. in specially built reservoirs on land) does not cause much damage to the environment. Therefore, the negative consequences of the activities of such fish farms often go unnoticed. The quality of feed is of great importance for environmentally safe fish farming. Large fish, such as salmon, naturally feed on smaller fish. Therefore, in fish farms, salmon are fed mainly with fish protein and fish oil. This food is made from commercial fish. The quality of farmed salmon directly depends on how environmentally friendly the fish it feeds are. The development of new technologies makes it possible to reduce the share of commercial fish in feed. This makes it possible to use marine resources more efficiently. 
What kind of fish should you buy? A variety of environmentally friendly products in the diet is the key to a conscious approach to nutrition. We always recommend including a wide variety of fish and seafood in your diet. You shouldn't stop at just one type of fish. It's best to buy farmed fish and seafood, such as salmon, haddock or shrimp, from a trusted supplier. It would be a good idea to ask if there is a certificate for the product. Some supermarkets require a certificate (such as RSPCA Approved) for salmon products. For Jamie Oliver's restaurants and stores, we always buy fish from suppliers we have personally vetted. Or we choose products whose quality is confirmed by trustworthy certificates.
Completion of the translation of D. Knowland's article. Now let's turn to the Russian market The situation on the Russian market has changed greatly with the introduction of sanctions: before their introduction, 84% (!!!) of the red fish consumed was Norwegian salmon. Now the situation has changed: goods from Asia are supplied to us from abroad (mainly telapia and pangasius), the source of salmon is the Faroe Islands and Chile; pollock, cod, haddock, catfish, sockeye salmon and a small proportion of salmon are supplied from the Far East and the Barents Sea. Only our domestic fish is commercial, caught at sea. The rest of the fish is the result of artificial breeding or a product of “aquaculture”. Why is only our fish commercially available? The answer is very simple: our country simply did not yet have special equipment and technologies for fish breeding. Now, with the introduction of sanctions, farms that raise salmon on an industrial scale are beginning to appear (for example, the Murmansk Salmon brand of the Russian Sea company), which purchase complete production cycles (equipment, feed, medicines) in Norway. The first harvest of 4 thousand tons of commercial salmon under the Murmansk Salmon brand in the Barents Sea began in June of this year and will end in October. Next year the company plans to receive 10 thousand tons of fish. By 2018–2020, it plans to produce 25 thousand tons of salmon. Let us emphasize once again that all equipment for the full cycle of fish breeding, including feed, is purchased in Norway. 
So what is the problem with “aquaculture”? And everything would be fine, but too often recently voices have been heard that claim that artificial fish breeding is carried out with huge violations.
Just as livestock was previously raised in Europe using large doses of antibiotics, fish is now raised. Not only antibiotics are used, but also pesticides, which are designed to clean up excessively polluted water bodies (link to the French research film at the end of the post). Believing it or not is a personal matter for everyone. But nutritionists still urge, if possible, to buy “wild” fish if you are not completely confident in the supplier of aquaculture fish. It turns out that from the point of view of modern nutrition, our domestic commercial fish can still potentially bring more health benefits.
But even “wild” fish can be harmful to health Recent studies show that even the meat of commercial fish is often contaminated with toxic chemicals: industrial enterprises actively release mercury, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), dioxin and other pollutants into the environment, which end up in the water and then through the food chain into fish. PCBs ( Plychlorobiphenyls): belong to the group of persistent organic pollutants, monitoring of which in air, water and soil is mandatory in developed industrial countries due to their high danger to the environment and public health.
PCBs were first produced in the United States by Monsanto in 1929. These are oily liquids that are not flammable and do not conduct electricity, but conduct heat well. PCBs are resistant to acids and alkalis.
Thanks to these properties, they are widely used as dielectrics in transformers and capacitors, as coolants in heat exchange systems, in hydraulic engineering, and are included in plasticizers, paints, varnishes, lubricating oils, plastics, copy paper, and additives in household chemicals. PCB production has almost completely ceased worldwide. For the speedy environmentally safe disposal of these substances, in 2001, most European countries signed the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. The parties to this convention have committed themselves to completely neutralize PCBs available in their countries by 2028.
The best thing you can do for your health is to introduce smaller fish into your diet instead of medium and large ones (old and large ones usually contain more harmful substances) and shellfish, which are less likely to contain harmful substances. In the United States, the Department of Conservation and the Environmental Defense Fund regularly publish data on the content of chemicals harmful to human health in various types of popular seafood. In Russia, such monitoring does not exist. Below is a list of fish species in the waters of the world's oceans according to the degree of contamination with mercury and PCBs It is recommended to completely avoid: - Wild striped bass - Bonito (!!!) - American eel - King mackerel - Shark - Wild sturgeon (!!!) - Swordfish - Tuna (!!!) Consume rarely (less than 1 once a month): - Summer and winter flounder - Yellow perch - Bighead - Bigeye tuna Consume in moderation (less than 2 times a month): - Sea bass (an aquaculture object, this is the only one on sale in Russia, irina_co) - Blue crab - Grouper - Greenling - King Mackerel - Salmon (aquaculture product) - Sea Spotted Trout - Snapper Consume more often (but less than 3 times a month): - Redtail Snapper - Atlantic Sturgeon - Blackfin Tuna - Longfin Tuna, canned - Yellowfin Tuna Consume Most Often (4 once a month): - Anchovies - Catfish - Bivalves - Cod (Atlantic) - Crabs - Lobsters - Haddock - Halibut - Herring - Lobsters - Atlantic Mackerel - Dorado - Mussels - Oysters - Pollock - Sardines - Wild Salmon - Scallops - Shrimp - Sole - Squid - Tilapia - Trout - Muksun and other whitefish Unfortunately, in Russia, similar lists of the safety levels of different types of fish have not yet been created, so there is simply no place to find out about the level of a particular toxic substance in fish. The analyzes of the Roskontrol organization so far concern only the grade and volume of ice added to frozen products. Black Sea flounder Kalkan:
Fishing in the Barents Sea:
Sources:1. On PCB contamination of fish: Bret Blumenthal. A year lived right. 52 steps to a healthy lifestyle. Moscow. 2016. p. 215.2. About fish imported into the territory of the Russian Federation, about domestic aquaculture: About farmed salmon: “Fish of mass destruction”: link to the film by French journalists Nicolas Daniel and Louis de Baiberac_____________________________________________
"...NORWEGIAN SALMON IS THE MOST TOXIC FOOD IN THE WHOLE WORLD..."- quote from the film
The film is long, a full 50 minutes, but after watching it you will learn about many more aspects of eating artificial fish imported from Asia and Norway. Most likely, you will not regret these 50 minutes spent. We plan to make a synopsis for this film in the near future due to the fact that the information covered in the film is very important, significant and little known. We managed to find this video in the wilds of the Internet with great difficulty:
What kind of fish is not grown artificially on farms?
Fish that is not artificially grown on farms and is not stuffed with antibiotics, growth stimulants, dyes, but is caught from natural reservoirs, seas, and oceans - these are pollock, catfish, flounder, perch, navaga, pink salmon, cod, sockeye salmon, saury, herring, chum salmon . The diet of artificially grown fish is poor; they do not have plankton or shrimp on the menu, which naturally affects the quality of the fish.
Cod is grown on a large scale in Norway!
There is a lot of cod in the Russian Federation from there, be careful
The well-known and beloved fish with such a cute name - HERRING - is not artificially grown on farms.
At least, I have not found information anywhere that herring is grown artificially. It turns out that this particular fish is less dangerous for our body than salmon, salmon, carp, dorado, pangasius and telapia. And this is only a part of those fish that are grown artificially.
When choosing fish, nutritionists advise buying one that has not been grown in fish farms. Such fish include: cod, saury, herring, pollock, pink salmon.
Such fish are considered more useful because, unlike their more well-fed relatives, they were not stuffed with GMO feed and/or antibiotics.
By the way, as an alternative, many summer residents are engaged in growing fish in nearby reservoirs. Crucian carp is especially well suited for such purposes, as it can adapt and reproduce well in almost any water. Tilapia grow well in captivity. It is better not to buy farm-raised fish often.
The site helps you choose fish and seafood that are least contaminated with heavy metals. It is also intended for those who prefer to eat food whose production does not harm the environment, so some types of fish for which there is no medical data are mentioned there simply because their farming does not harm the environment. Be careful and look for information about the degree of infection!
Upd: For readers from Russia: this site contains not only American information, it mentions many types of fish that are caught in Russia. By default, fish from the Russian catch are considered more contaminated, because Russia does not comply with international standards and does not allow inspectors, but in this case, the breed still decides, so if the fish does not accumulate mercury, then it will not accumulate it in Russia either.
Translate the name of the breed: Russian-English-Hebrew.
Types of fish you can eat:
Anchovies, northern (Engraulis mordax), European (Engraulis encrasicolus) and Japanese (Engraulis japonicus).
Barramundi (Lates calcarifer), except those grown in the Indo-Pacific region.
Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) raised in the USA.
Red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), not made in China.
Rock lobster (Panulirus interruptus), only from California or Baja, Mexico City.
American lobster (Homarus americanus)
Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus).
Atlantic haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus).
Sardines (Sardinops sagax).
Pagra, aka sea bream, aka tai (Pagrus pagrus).
Salmon (Salmo salar) wild, from Alaska. Farmed salmon and wild Washington salmon are contaminated with PCBs and are dangerous to eat more than once a month, and downright unhealthy to eat less often.
Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus).
Tilapia.
Bivalves (Mya arenaria) grown in the USA.
Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) grown in the USA.
Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) farmed in the USA.
Sea scallops (Argopecten irradians).
Pink shrimp (Pandalus jordani).
Squid (Teuthida).
Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus). The site advises eating it, but in this case I can’t agree with the site - according to my information, not everything is so simple with cod.
Dungeness crab (Cancer magister). Infected with PCBs.
Light tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis). Mercury contamination, although less than in other types of tuna.
White halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis). Moderate mercury contamination.
Black sea bass (Centropristis striata). Moderate mercury contamination.
Pompano (Trachinotus carolinus). Moderate mercury contamination.
Monkfish (Lophius piscatorius). Mercury contamination.
Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Infection of PCBs.
Sea tongue (Parophrys vetula). Average contamination of PCBs.
Stingray (Leucoraja ocellata). Moderate mercury contamination.
Cuban yellowtail (Ocyurus chrysurus). Moderate mercury contamination.
Vermilion snapper. Moderate mercury contamination.
Snapper, various (Lutjanidae). Moderate mercury contamination.
Coalfish (Anoplopoma fimbria). Moderate mercury contamination.
Sea bass - rockfish. Moderate mercury contamination.
Dorado (Coryphaena hippurus). Moderate mercury contamination.
Fish that contains a large amount of hazardous substances (species are arranged in order of increasing harmful substances):
Hokhlach, also known as tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps). High levels of mercury.
Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares). High levels of mercury.
White albacore tuna. High levels of mercury.
Oysters (Crassostrea virginica). High infection rate of PCBs.
Moray eel (Conger conger). High levels of mercury.
Sea eel (Conger oceanicus). High levels of mercury.
Mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis). High levels of mercury.
Grouper (Epinephelus). High levels of mercury.
Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri). High levels of mercury.
Gray croaker, walleye croaker, spotted croaker (Cynoscion nebulosus). High levels of both mercury and PCBs.
Spanish markel (Scomberomorus maculatus). High levels of mercury.
Toothed greener (Ophiodon elongatus). High levels of mercury.
Blue swimming crab (Callinectes sapidus). High levels of both mercury and PCBs.
Chilean Patagonian toothfish. High levels of mercury.
Orange bighead (Hoplostethus atlanticus). High levels of mercury.
Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus). Very high levels of mercury.
Farmed salmon (Salmo salar). Very high level of contamination of PCBs, dangerous to eat more than once a month.
Salmon (Salmo salar), wild, from Washington. Very high level of contamination of PCBs, dangerous to eat more than once a month.
Red-finned opah (Lampris guttatus). Very high levels of mercury.
American flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus). Very high level of contamination of PCBs, dangerous to eat more than once a month.
Summer toothed flounder (Paralichthys dentatus). Very high level of contamination of PCBs, dangerous to eat more than once a month.
Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus). Very high level of contamination of PCBs, dangerous to eat more than once a month.
Never eat the following types of fish, they are very dangerous (types are arranged in order of increasing harmful substances):
Swordfish. Contains dangerous amounts of mercury.
Shark. Contains dangerous amounts of mercury.
Marlin (Makaira). Contains dangerous amounts of mercury.
Common tuna (Thunnus thynnus). Contains dangerous amounts of mercury.
King mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla). Contains dangerous amounts of mercury.
Gray croaker (Cynoscion regalis). Contains hazardous amounts of mercury and PCBs.
Sturgeon. Contains hazardous amounts of mercury and PCBs.
Shad (Alosa sapidissima). Contains a dangerous amount of PCBs.
European eel (Anguilla anguilla). Contains a dangerous amount of PCBs.
American eel. Contains hazardous amounts of mercury and PCBs.
White croaker (Genyonemus lineatus). Contains a dangerous amount of PCBs.
Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix). Contains hazardous amounts of mercury and PCBs.
American striped bass (Morone saxatilis). Contains hazardous amounts of mercury and PCBs.
Greyback, elewife (Alosa pseudoharengus). Contains a dangerous amount of PCBs.
As far as I know, there are no similar lists in Russian (at least not on such a scale and not from such an authoritative source), so the dissemination of information is strongly encouraged.
I try to eat exclusively plant foods, but I can’t give up fish and seafood. I love them very much, and therefore I am offended and scared to read about the fact that in reality fish can be not only not healthy, but also extremely dangerous. To reduce the health risks that may arise from eating fish and seafood, you need to follow several rules.
2. Unfortunately, wild fish are not doing well either. Today, the oceans and seas are extremely polluted and radioactive, and fish absorb toxic and radioactive substances that are dangerous to human health. Most of them accumulate in large fish. These hazardous substances include, for example, heavy metals and mercury. Mercury is a neurotoxin that causes people to lose memory, vision, cardiovascular diseases, etc. Doctors strongly recommend that pregnant women avoid products containing mercury, as it causes mental retardation, deafness, blindness and cerebral palsy in children.
Here is a list of fish that should be avoided completely as they contain the highest concentration of mercury: marlin, tilefish, swordfish (my husband's weakness, which caused high levels of mercury in his body), shark, king mackerel, bigeye tuna and yellowfin tuna.
Fish from the following list can also be eaten in small portions no more than 6 times a month: striped bass and black bass, carp, Pacific cod, white croaker, Pacific and Atlantic halibut, lobster, dorado, monkfish, freshwater bass, sablefish, stingray, snapper, gray croaker, skipjack tuna.
Finally, it is recommended to eat fish from this list no more than twice a week (180 gram serving): anchovy, butterfish, catfish, bivalves, crabs, crayfish, croaker, haddock, hake, herring, Atlantic mackerel and Japanese mackerel, mullet, oysters, river and sea flounder, salmon, sardines, scallops, shrimp, sole, squid, telapia, freshwater trout, “white” fish, hake.
3. When cooking fish, keep in mind that toxic substances are mainly found in fat, and it is better to choose cooking methods that involve rendering fat, such as grilling.
4. Avoid canned fish and any industrially processed fish. I hope there is no need to explain why)))
5. I also often get asked about sushi, because there is an opinion that it is a very healthy food. However, in light of the above, it is obvious that this is not the case. And one more thing: the combination of fish and rice (especially processed white rice) is very bad for digestion, so sushi or rolls are the wrong choice in a Japanese restaurant. It is better to choose sashimi - if you are not afraid of radiation and mercury))).
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The site helps you choose fish and seafood that are least contaminated with heavy metals. It is also intended for those who prefer to eat food whose production does not harm the environment, so some types of fish for which there is no medical data are mentioned there simply because their farming does not harm the environment. Be careful and look for information about the degree of infection!
Upd: For readers from Russia: this site contains not only American information, it mentions many types of fish that are caught in Russia. By default, fish from the Russian catch are considered more contaminated, because Russia does not comply with international standards and does not allow inspectors, but in this case, the breed still decides, so if the fish does not accumulate mercury, then it will not accumulate it in Russia either.
Translate the name of the breed: Russian-English-Hebrew.
Types of fish you can eat:
Anchovies, northern (Engraulis mordax), European (Engraulis encrasicolus) and Japanese (Engraulis japonicus).
Barramundi (Lates calcarifer), except those grown in the Indo-Pacific region.
Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) raised in the USA.
Red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), not made in China.
Rock lobster (Panulirus interruptus), only from California or Baja, Mexico City.
American lobster (Homarus americanus)
Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus).
Atlantic haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus).
Sardines (Sardinops sagax).
Pagra, aka sea bream, aka tai (Pagrus pagrus).
Salmon (Salmo salar) wild, from Alaska. Farmed salmon and wild Washington salmon are contaminated with PCBs and are dangerous to eat more than once a month, and downright unhealthy to eat less often.
Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus).
Tilapia.
Bivalves (Mya arenaria) grown in the USA.
Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) grown in the USA.
Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) farmed in the USA.
Sea scallops (Argopecten irradians).
Pink shrimp (Pandalus jordani).
Squid (Teuthida).
Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus). The site advises eating it, but in this case I can’t agree with the site - according to my information, not everything is so simple with cod.
Dungeness crab (Cancer magister). Infected with PCBs.
Light tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis). Mercury contamination, although less than in other types of tuna.
White halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis). Moderate mercury contamination.
Black sea bass (Centropristis striata). Moderate mercury contamination.
Pompano (Trachinotus carolinus). Moderate mercury contamination.
Monkfish (Lophius piscatorius). Mercury contamination.
Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Infection of PCBs.
Sea tongue (Parophrys vetula). Average contamination of PCBs.
Stingray (Leucoraja ocellata). Moderate mercury contamination.
Cuban yellowtail (Ocyurus chrysurus). Moderate mercury contamination.
Vermilion snapper. Moderate mercury contamination.
Snapper, various (Lutjanidae). Moderate mercury contamination.
Coalfish (Anoplopoma fimbria). Moderate mercury contamination.
Sea bass - rockfish. Moderate mercury contamination.
Dorado (Coryphaena hippurus). Moderate mercury contamination.
Fish that contains a large amount of hazardous substances (species are arranged in order of increasing harmful substances):
Hokhlach, also known as tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps). High levels of mercury.
Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares). High levels of mercury.
White albacore tuna. High levels of mercury.
Oysters (Crassostrea virginica). High infection rate of PCBs.
Moray eel (Conger conger). High levels of mercury.
Sea eel (Conger oceanicus). High levels of mercury.
Mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis). High levels of mercury.
Grouper (Epinephelus). High levels of mercury.
Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri). High levels of mercury.
Gray croaker, walleye croaker, spotted croaker (Cynoscion nebulosus). High levels of both mercury and PCBs.
Spanish markel (Scomberomorus maculatus). High levels of mercury.
Toothed greener (Ophiodon elongatus). High levels of mercury.
Blue swimming crab (Callinectes sapidus). High levels of both mercury and PCBs.
Chilean Patagonian toothfish. High levels of mercury.
Orange bighead (Hoplostethus atlanticus). High levels of mercury.
Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus). Very high levels of mercury.
Farmed salmon (Salmo salar). Very high infection rate of PCBs
Salmon (Salmo salar), wild, from Washington. Very high level of PCBs contamination, dangerous to eat more than once a month.
Red-finned opah (Lampris guttatus). Very high levels of mercury.
American flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus). Very high level of PCBs contamination, dangerous to eat more than once a month.
Summer toothed flounder (Paralichthys dentatus). Very high level of PCBs contamination, dangerous to eat more than once a month.
Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus). Very high level of PCBs contamination, dangerous to eat more than once a month.
Never eat the following types of fish, they are very dangerous (types are arranged in order of increasing harmful substances):
Swordfish. Contains dangerous amounts of mercury.
Shark. Contains dangerous amounts of mercury.
Marlin (Makaira). Contains dangerous amounts of mercury.
Common tuna (Thunnus thynnus). Contains dangerous amounts of mercury.
King mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla). Contains dangerous amounts of mercury.
Gray croaker (Cynoscion regalis). Contains hazardous amounts of mercury and PCBs.
Sturgeon. Contains hazardous amounts of mercury and PCBs.
Shad (Alosa sapidissima). Contains a dangerous amount of PCBs.
European eel (Anguilla anguilla). Contains a dangerous amount of PCBs.
American eel. Contains hazardous amounts of mercury and PCBs.
White croaker (Genyonemus lineatus). Contains a dangerous amount of PCBs.
Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix). Contains hazardous amounts of mercury and PCBs.
American striped bass (Morone saxatilis). Contains hazardous amounts of mercury and PCBs.
Greyback, elewife (Alosa pseudoharengus). Contains a dangerous amount of PCBs.
As far as I know, there are no similar lists in Russian (at least not on such a scale and not from such an authoritative source), so the dissemination of information is strongly encouraged.
It would take a very long time to list all the advantages of a country house: air, nature, and the opportunity to grow your own environmentally friendly products. For example, you can start raising livestock or poultry, but this is not the entire list of what you can do on your personal plot. Pond farming is becoming increasingly popular. At dachas, as a rule, all conditions are favorable for this.
fish pond
Growing fish in your own pond is quite an exciting activity., especially if there are fishing enthusiasts among your household or friends. Watching a fish grow in a pond, feeding it, then hunting for it, and, in the end, always having fresh fish for the table - isn’t it a joy for the owners?
In addition, organizing a pond on your site is not particularly difficult. This process can be completed in a few days, but for this you need to know and follow some rules. First of all, you should choose a suitable location for the future pond. How to do it?
Choosing a suitable location
Choosing a location for a future pond is the very first step, which must be approached with all responsibility. The quality of life of its inhabitants will depend on the correct position of the reservoir. When choosing a territory and its further improvement, you need to take into account the following features:
After all the necessary conditions are met and the reservoir is ready, you should not rush to immediately introduce fish there. It must stand for some time in order to acquire its own microflora and microorganisms, as well as to achieve the required temperature indicators. To speed up this process, you can pour several buckets of water taken from a regular reservoir. To “revive” the water, you should leave some wilted grass at the bottom of the pond.
Fish farming equipment
To create comfortable living conditions for fish in the pool, it is worth acquiring the necessary equipment. To protect water from blooms and pollution, you will need a gravity biofilter. The compressor will provide the required level of oxygen, and the ultraviolet sterilizer will prevent the water from blooming. Among other things, you will have to clean and periodically change the water in the pond, for which a hydraulic pump will be useful. It is also necessary to install fish feeders.
Features of fish breeding
Even in the process of creating an artificial reservoir, it is necessary to follow some rules. Before deciding to populate a pond with aquatic inhabitants, you should take into account the depth, temperature, pH level of the water, as well as other factors:
All these conditions must be met for a successful fish farming process.
Pond inhabitants
Among the many varieties of fish, you should choose the most suitable for a particular type of pool and living conditions. The most popular fish species for breeding in your own pond are carp, crucian carp, tench, cold-water trout, goldfish, as well as decorative Japanese carp - koi.
It is necessary to populate these fish into a reservoir at a rate of 10 to 20 individuals per 1 m³ of water. Accordingly, a small pond can accommodate several medium-sized carp and 20-25 crucian carp. In this case, the pool must have a perimeter of 4x6 m and a depth of at least 1.5 m. Thanks to this, the water in it will warm up evenly and quickly enough. The most suitable temperature for keeping these fish species is about 26 °C. A decrease in temperature to 10−12 ° C or an increase to 30 ° C negatively affects them: the fish becomes less mobile, the processes of feeding and reproduction slow down sharply.
There are also types of fish that are well suited for breeding at home:
Depending on the purpose of breeding, the owner will be able to choose the most suitable species from the entire variety of underwater inhabitants.
Food for aquatic inhabitants
Artificial fish breeding can only be successful if there is a responsible attitude to the issue of feeding them. The most unpretentious species is carp, which eats almost everything. It can be fed with feed for pigs or poultry, and the loose powder should be thoroughly mixed with water to form a porridge, and then sent to a pond.
Other breeds prefer a pre-steamed and swollen mixture of grains and legumes. The volume of this food should not exceed 3-6% of the weight of the fish itself. It is recommended to feed 1-2 times a day in a certain place in the reservoir at the same time. For convenience, a specially equipped table-pallet is used. This convenience lies in the fact that it can be lowered to the bottom without any problems, and then taken out from there with the same ease. With the help of such a design, it is easy to track how much food has been eaten and whether there are any pieces left that will pollute the water.
It is very interesting to observe how the ringing of a small bell gradually creates a conditioned reflex in the fish and they gather in a flock to feast on the food brought by the owner.
Undoubtedly Breeding fish in an artificial reservoir is not an easy task, because all conditions must be met to make their maintenance as comfortable as possible. In this case, the fish will live a long time and delight their owners.
What is the article about?
Breeding fish in a pond as a business is not the easiest thing, but it has good profitability.
- Fish farming methods
- What kind of fish is best to grow?
- Fish marketing channels
- The influence of seasonality on payback and financial results
Russia is a country rich in natural resources. It ranks second after Brazil in terms of water reserves. A large number of fresh water reservoirs allows for fish farming. This type of agriculture today is little developed among modern entrepreneurs, largely due to serious competition with foreign fish suppliers.
From a profitability point of view, breeding fish in a pond allows you to receive about 20% of net profit. This business can be done in both the southern and northern regions of the country. The zone of the Krasnodar Territory is more preferable.
In the article we will look at the features of fish breeding in a pond, find out why this particular breeding format is most preferable, calculate profitability, study growing technologies, and information about feeding.
Fish farming methods
There are 2 areas of fish breeding - in artificial and natural reservoirs. The latter option is quite difficult to implement due to serious administrative barriers. Renting a pond is very difficult. It will take time to collect papers and carry out approvals. And you can obtain the right to lease a specific reservoir only after winning a competitive bidding.
If an entrepreneur does not want to deal with all this paperwork, then he can independently create an artificial reservoir for keeping fish. Today it is grown in one of the following ways:
- in ponds (allows you to grow a large number of fish, including different species, has a high level of profit and lower financial costs);
- in swimming pools;
- cage breeding (usually this method is used for breeding large individuals);
- breeding in barrels and baths (almost always does not imply the possibility of making a big profit).
Businessmen who decide to seriously engage in fish farming settle on raising fish in a pond. This is the most promising and profitable method.
What kind of fish is best to grow?
Before choosing a place to breed fish, you need to decide what kind of fish to breed. The most popular on the market today are:
- trout;
- carp.
The ideal option is to grow fish of two of these varieties at once. But it is only available if you have a fairly significant initial capital. If this is not possible, then the following features should be taken into account:
As you can see, both breeding formats have their advantages and disadvantages, so the breeder must make the final decision himself, assessing the level of his knowledge, starting capital and responsibility.
Choosing a place for fish farming
Surely even novice fish breeders know that the rate of increase in the number and weight of individuals, as well as their health, depends on the level of water temperature and its acidity. It is quite difficult to assess these factors on your own, so it is better to use the services of a specialist who can give a fisheries biological justification at the end of his work.
The choice of location directly depends on the type of fish. For example, trout feels best at temperatures from 16 0 C to 19 0 C. It is better to keep it in a reservoir with a depth of at least 15 meters.
But carp is more thermophilic. It must be kept at a temperature of 24 0 C - 25 0 C. They do not require great depth. One and a half meters will be enough.
It is better to breed any fish in a drainage pond, so collecting specimens for further sale will be much easier.
Features of breeding fish in a pond
If an entrepreneur has already decided that he will breed fish in a pond, then he has several more unresolved questions. He must:
- choose a growing method;
- properly equip the reservoir;
- purchase the necessary equipment;
- develop a nutrition system in accordance with the recommendations of more experienced businessmen in this field.
The growth rate and further productivity of adult individuals will depend on the volume of food, the correctly selected climatic zone and the quality of water.
Fish breeding method
The growth rate of fish depends on the conditions and place of residence. If it is kept in a pond, then it takes about 1.5-2 years to grow. This is how long it takes for a fish to reach a significant mass. To breed individuals in a pond, you can use one of the following methods:
- extensive (the fish eats food from the reservoir, no additional additives are used) - requires almost no ongoing investment from the businessman;
- intensive (reclamation of the reservoir is carried out to enrich the feed, additionally using purchased feed) - requires larger investments than in the first method, but allows you to increase the growth rate.
In addition to methods, there are also several technologies for growing fish: traditional and continuous.
The traditional format consists of a growing cycle lasting 2 to 3 years. This technology is used for breeding exclusively herbivorous fish. This technique is not so common today, as it requires a long time. It consists of several stages, ending with the release of water from the pond. In this case, it is necessary to use several types of ponds - wintering, feeding, fry. During fish transplantation, high mortality rates are observed.
Increasingly, fish breeders today are using continuous technology, as it is much easier to use. According to this method, young animals are raised separately and then planted in a feeding pond for their further growth and reproduction.
Features of selecting a site for creating a pond
Fish farming is possible not only outside the city, but also within it, provided you have your own large plot of land. The presence of plants in the pond is a must. Under no circumstances should there be peat or silt at the bottom. It is important to make sure in advance that the reservoir is suitable specifically for growing and incubating, and not just keeping individuals.
You can choose the decorative elements of the pond at your discretion, but during construction you need to take into account the following tips from more experienced entrepreneurs involved in fish farming:
- the most suitable pond volume is from 30 to 50 m2, a smaller pond will need to be carefully monitored, and a larger pond will result in serious costs;
- the pond must be located in a low-lying area;
- There must be some shade so that the fish can hide in it during the hot season;
- It’s better not to make a flat bottom, but to make areas with thresholds and ledges;
- Each type of fish requires the creation of a reservoir with different types of soil.
What equipment will be needed?
When breeding fish in an artificial pond, you cannot do without special equipment. The entrepreneur will need:
- gravity filter (will filter water, simple and easy to use);
- compressor (will saturate the water with oxygen);
- ultraviolet sterilizer (will not allow the pond to bloom).
Additionally, other devices may be needed; everything will depend on the type of fish being grown.
Diet
One of the most important factors for rapid growth is proper feeding of fish. There is no universal solution here. It all depends on the species being grown, because each variety has its own food preferences and grows to a certain size. Of course, a lot depends on the conditions of detention. If a businessman wants to accelerate the growth of individuals, then it is worth adding food rich in protein to the food.
Fish do not require large amounts of food. So, to increase weight by 1 kilogram, the diet must have a value of at least 4,500 kcal.
It is important to monitor the amount of amino acids in food, since they are the ones that cause appetite and directly affect the rate of weight gain. It also prevents many diseases in fish, especially fry.
A healthy diet should also include:
- vegetable and animal fats;
- fiber (the volume of its consumption depends on the type of fish being farmed, the minimum amount is 20%, for some species this value may be higher);
- biologically active substances (these can be enzymes or premixes);
- cereals (for example, you can add bran to the feed; they will be an excellent source of carbohydrates);
- vitamin B;
- products of meat origin (special flour, low-fat dairy products).
Such a balanced diet will allow the fish to grow quickly, maintaining their health and reproduction.
Diseases as causes of high fish mortality
Sometimes entrepreneurs underestimate the impact of diseases on the reproduction rate and mortality rate. But when breeding fish in a pond, the risk of disease is very high. That is why it is necessary to check the condition of individuals at least once every 10 days. Freshwater fish are most often characterized by the following diseases:
Name of the disease | Symptoms of the disease |
Rubella | The eyes bulge, the skin becomes inflamed, dropsy begins, and small hemorrhages appear. |
| Gill rot | Death of the edges of the gill tissue, paleness of the gills. Large individuals refuse to eat and become inactive. |
Discocotylosis | Injury to the gill tissue occurs. The disease is especially dangerous for young animals. |
Ichthyophthiriasis | White bumps appear on the body. |
| Dactylogyrosis | Decreased activity level, exhaustion, anemia of the gills, sunken eyes. Usually appears during the hot season. Young individuals are most susceptible to this disease. |
Fish marketing channels
Farmed fish are quite easy to sell. Most often, entrepreneurs use the following sales channels:
- fish shops and kiosks;
- supermarkets and small shops;
- restaurants;
- sales to local residents;
- Internet trading.
To have the right to sell fish, you must be officially registered. It is better to choose the Unified Agricultural Tax as a form of tax.
The impact of business seasonality on its payback and financial results
Fish farming in a pond is a seasonal business. Peak growth activity occurs in spring and summer. But even in winter, individuals need to be looked after: fed, made holes in the ice. Fish are usually sold in the autumn.
The cost of a kilogram of fish will depend on the selling season. The lowest prices will be in September, October and November. But in other months the cost will be slightly higher, which will allow you to get a higher profit for selling the same amount of fish.
It is the seasonality in this area of entrepreneurship that is its main drawback, which negatively affects the development of individual farms. Real income is possible within just 3-4 months. All other periods of time you will need to make investments.
To ensure that the enterprise does not turn out to be unprofitable, it is necessary to think through all the nuances in advance and draw up a detailed business plan with accurate calculations. We must not forget that the level of competition in this area is very high, so working in the fishing industry is worth it to those who are confident in their abilities and are ready to work for results.
Due to seasonality, you will not be able to quickly return your investment. The payback period can reach 6-12 months. And without special knowledge in the fishing industry, you can even go into the red.
The main cost items will be:
- purchase of fry;
- purchase of feed and all kinds of additives to it;
- purchase of special equipment;
- costs of constructing a pond and maintaining it.
You can hope for high incomes only if the fish are properly maintained and cared for and their numbers constantly increase. This format of entrepreneurship requires special attention from the businessman or hired personnel.
