Coastal Aquaculture and Mariculture (2+1)

Unit 3 - Methods of coastal aquaculture and mariculture

3.1.3. Design and Construction of coastal ponds

• The design of the farm and its construction are as important as the selection of the site in ensuring success of the project. As indicated earlier ideal sites may not always be available. Deficiencies in sites have to be made up by suitable designs for construction and operation.
• As pond farm design is so site-specific, one cannot conceive of a design that can be of universal use. However, some major design feature can be defined on the basis of the site physiography, the source and nature of the water supply, type of stock enclosures to be used, organisms to be cultured and the techniques of management.
• For designing coastal pond farms the most important data needed are the seasonal variation in salinity of the available water and access to fresh water to reduce salinity when required. When ponds have to be filled with tidal energy, detailed studies are needed to determine the stage/duration/ frequency relationship necessary for engineering designs.
• For designing proper water management in the tide fed ponds, it is necessary to determine the ground elevation, which actually approximates the tidal levels of mean lower high water or mean high water at neap tide. It is uneconomical to excavate more than 50 cm for pond construction. If this is needed it will be better to resort to pumping rather than depend on tides for water supply and drainage.
• As mentioned earlier pond farm designs are site specific. The aquaculturist has to work closely with the engineer to arrive at an economically acceptable design that will meet the operational requirements of the species and the culture technology.

Size and shape:
The size of a farm has to be determined based on a number of factors such as quantity of water and extent of land available; technology to be followed (extensive, semi-intensive or intensive farming); and production and income required to make the operation viable.