Freshwater aquaculture (2+1)

Unit 3 - Nursery, Rearing and grow-out ponds

3.2. Pre-stocking Management

• The ponds need to be prepared such that the pond environment provides optimum condition for growth of the fish.
• The pond environment should be free from predators, aquatic weeds, weed fish; it should have optimum water quality parameters and sufficient natural food should be available in semi- intensive culture systems.
• The steps involved in pre-stocking and post-stocking management are similar in the nursery, rearing and grow-out ponds.
• An additional step in the pre-stocking management in nursery ponds is the eradication of aquatic insects which predate on spawn and fry.

The pre-stocking pond management of drainable ponds, which can be dried, is as follows.

• Draining and drying
• Ploughing
• Liming
• Filling with water and
• Fertilization

Perennial un-drainable water bodies require the following additional pre-stocking management measures.

• Control of aquatic weeds
• Eradication of weed fish and predatory fish and animals.

Nursery ponds require eradication of aquatic insects as an additional pre-stocking management meature.