It is not a stretch to think that no two aquaculture facilities are created equal. But when you consider the fundamentals of the facility the system in use can be classified into 3 groups; open systems, semi-open systems and closed systems.
An open system provides the easiest and least technology demanding way to grow fish. In this type of system the fish are grown in environments that are either created by hand or already naturally available. Common examples of this include grow out ponds, clam beds, oyster rafts and fish cages.
The main advantage to an open system is that they are the least capital intensive way to start an aquaculture facility. Expenses are less for farmers who choose to use a more natural environment than for farmers who create the environment. This is mostly due to the fact that the more unnatural the environment the more the fish will need to be monitored and tested.
None of the aquaculture systems are perfect and that holds true for open systems. One of the major issues that open system farmers face is the threat of predators. The use of nets and cages goes a long way to eliminating this threat as they provide a barrier to the natural predators of the fish. Cages and nets also improve overall growth rates and can be an aid in ensuring better uniformity in the end product.
Probably the biggest threat to open-systems is the negative effect that they can have on the surrounding environment. That is out of the realm of this post but I am sure it will be explored in many posts to come.
To learn more about the other types of systems click the system below
Semi-Closed
Closed
To learn more about advanced techniques and other information related to open systems checkout some of the related posts below or within the systems category
Related Posts
- Closed or Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS)
- Semi Closed Aquaculture System
- Stop the Gulf’s Dangerous Open-Ocean Aquaculture Plan Now!
- Recirculating Aquaculture Systems: Principles of Design and Operation
About the author
Mike
I created AquacultureTalk.com to bring the aquaculture community together. I have a vision for an international website that allows all members to both submit articles and take part in article discussions. I look forward to seeing what everyone has to say in the world of aquaculture.Where Am I:
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