Non-Profit Org. V .S. Post~ge D\.?c R2i !an , 1'3 RAI N r,lge.tO CHINESE AQUACULTURE: Fine Tuning A. T. orgaII ic fis!l fannillg, more properly known as integrated ecological aquacultll re, is a relatively new science in the West, Half a world away, in the village ofWuxi in the Jimlgsu Province of !'astenl China, the Asian-Pacific Research and Training Center for Illtegrated Fish Farmillg conducts what is reportedly the best aquacultllre work ill the world. They ollght to - the Chinese have been fish farming for 2,000 years. We are fil/ally getting an opportunity to exchange information and reap the benefits of this rich and ancient history, this grand tradition thai over gelleratiolls has evolved illtO a science and an art. Two very special people, Christina Rawley and Ron Zweig of the New Alchemy Institllte (NA]), are in Wuxi now, fillishing up a year of aquaculture studies and of getting to know China. At New Alchemy, Ron has masterlllinded sOllie of the most sophisticated aquaculture research in North America, includillg innovative work incorporatng fish production into solar greC/lhouse desigll. Christilla, whose colorful backgrou/ld iI/ell/des aile of the original Clamshell Alliance "occupations" of ti,e Seabrook, NH IIuclear plant site, is publications editor at NAI. What follows is exccrptedfrom a letter circulated among friends this SI./I11//ler. More detailed illfonllation will ulldoubtedly be made available ill fllture New Alchemy publications (write to NAI, 237 Hatchville Road, East Falmollth, MA 02536). - Mark Roseland by Christina Rawley and Ron Zweig The integrated fish farming in this area is unsurpassed <mywhere in the world. Fish production on an annual basis approaches 14,000 kgs. per hectare of pond area. The methods applied are quite simple including measurements like turbidity checks and its maintenance for best produchvity. The ponds' transparency is maintained at the length of your forearm by checking your hand's visibility with your arm submerged to the elbow. The polyculture ,stocking ratios are another important key vvhere appropriate numbers of different species are stocked to be able to utilize the proporhon of pond generated feeds that develop as a result of manuring and adding grasses. The whole process of fish culture from RAIN 2270 NW Irving, Portland, OR 97210 (503) 227·5110 artificial propagation through fry and fingerling rearing to food fish production has been finely tuned. Some fanns do better than others, and this can generally be attributed to experience, though in some instances a grand tradition of bullheadedness contributes to a lack of efficiency. Even in these instances production is damn good on a world-wide basis. With the present drives toward modernization, some consideration is being given to trout culture. Carp culture is old fashioned and must be re-examined. (Bv the way, the Chinese carps are excellent tasting fish -ail of them.) Along with consideration of trout culture, pelleted feed is being used more and more widely. The production as a result of using pellets comes close to that of straight pig manure, snails and grasses - that is in terms of feed conversion into fish growth. The pellets obviously are far more costly since they contain nutritious grains, vitamins, and minerals in addition to fish meal. Must modernization always lead to disintegration? Hopefully, with careful assessment and the huge amount of time it takes to implement any extensive technological change in this country, the value of traditional methods will be realized and maintained... . PAID Permit No. 1890 Portland, OR
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