PONDWAYS: A NEW INTENSIVE-EXTENSIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR RECYCLING OF AQUACULTURE EFFLUENTS

Aquaculture is increasing at an annual rate of 20% and has become a $1 billion industry in the U.S. that provides more than 25% of our seafood supplies. Due to limited water supplies, future aquaculture development will probably involve closed systems in which the culture water is treated and recycled. Current recycling technologies are based on industrial waste treatment methods, but aquaculture facilities require less expensive methods and a much higher degree of treatment.

We will evaluate an advanced concept for closed system aquaculture in which fish are held at high densities in intensive raceways or tanks, while a large fraction of the culture water is cycled through a series of extensive ponds for water treatment. This Pondway concept combines university research efforts of scientists a Clemson University with private industry research at Aquatic systems. The concept may result in more efficient production at lower costs because the culturist can control the fishes' environment, accelerate growth rates, supplement oxygen levels, maximize feeding , and treat diseases in the intensive sections, while also reducing water treatment costs in the pond sections. Without fish present, the pond section scan be managed solely to treat water and a 300-600% increase in water treatment capacity appears possible.