Dedicated To The Tribal Aquaculture Program

 

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Topics Of Interest:

Leech Lake's Winnibigoshish Fish and Wildlife Pond Complex

Stripping, Fertilizing and Incubating Walleye Eggs with Big Redd Incubators

Status of Aquaculture Drugs

Fish Marketing Concepts

Hatchery Tips

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Leech Lake's Winnibigoshish Fish and Wildlife Pond Complex - The Greatest!

By John Ringle - Leech Lake Reservation, Director of Fish and Wildlife, Rt. 3, Box 100, Cass Lake, MN 56633, 218-335-8240

In 1949, the headline on the Sunday Magazine section of the Minneapolis Tribune proclaimed, "They're the Greatest!" Now, nearly 50 years later, the Leech Lake Reservation Fisheries Department hopes the Winnibigoshish Fish and Wildlife Pond Complex can once again make the same proclamation. After nearly five years of planning and construction, Leech Lake has completed its second growing season using these totally rehabilitated and modernized fish rearing ponds. Continued development and operation of the wildlife and interpretive areas of the project are ongoing. The project has been and continues to be a real learning process for everyone involved, from engineers and project managers through the hatchery workers and biologists working there on a daily basis.

In 1988 the Leech Lake Fisheries Department wanted to expand their fish rearing capabilities. Construction of outdoor rearing ponds were explored as an option to meet this goal. At the same time we began preparing a proposal to the 1989 Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCMR) for funding to develop these ponds. We looked at two potential sites near our operating indoor hatchery in Cass Lake. One site was on U.S. Forest Service land on Pike Bay and the other was a tribal allotment on Steamboat Lake. Neither site was the prime site for construction based on water availability, soil characteristics and optimum economic investment, however we continued our quest, seeking funding and developing plans. The LCMR could sense our unsureness and backed off funding this proposal. Still committed to the project a year later, yet looking for a better plan, we came across the possibility that we could renovate an existing site in need of tremendous work but that could potentially be a dynamic project.

The fish ponds below the dam on Lake Winnibigoshish (Winni) were owned and operated by the State of Minnesota from 1949 until about 1970 for rearing walleye fingerlings and baitfish for muskie production. There were four engineered and constructed ponds. Three ponds were twenty acres each in size and one was 14 acres in size. In addition, a six acre level parcel was adjacent to one of the ponds and was to be used someday for a hatchery building. Water for the ponds was obtained from above the Winni Dam and flowed by gravity to the four ponds. The ponds were fully manageable but took a very long time to fill and an even longer time to drain. A twenty acre pond was just too large to be effectively managed for maximum economical game fish production. In the early 1970's, the ponds' use was discontinued for fish production. They were managed intermittently thereafter for wildlife, especially waterfowl and furbearers.

In 1991, knowing the ponds had been idle for over 20 years, we looked into the possibility of rehabilitating these ponds for tribal use. At this point things really got interesting! We found that the property had been acquired by the State of Minnesota in 1949 through a condemnation procedure of land parcels from a variety of sources. Parcels condemned were previously owned by the War Department (Army Corps of Engineers for dam purposes), the U.S. Forest Service and a tribally allotted parcel held in trust by the Dept. of Interior. Additionally there were about 83 acres at the site already owned by the State of Minnesota taken under Swamp Act of the 1930's. In the condemnation proceedings, however, there was a reverter clause that would allow the land to go back to its original owners if the site was abandoned for fish rearing. Seeing that the water distribution house and the outside pond bank perimeter were still functional, and with some modifications could be made operational, we saw an opportunity to repair and modify this site for tribal use.

After 20 years of non-use, we felt a case might be made to invoke the reverter clause, and inquired with the State Attorney General's office and the Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources. The DNR gave us the go ahead as they had no plans for fish rearing and the AG's office assisted in triggering the reverter clause. This took nearly two years to complete, but in the meantime, we obtained a conditional use project in the event we could obtain funding for rehabilitation. State legislation was also passed that allowed the state of Minnesota to sell the 83 acres to Leech Lake for an appraised price. The War Department parcel of 38 acres that went back to the U.S. Government when the reverter was triggered was then surplussed and will be eventually placed in trust and held by the Department of the Interior, BIA, for the Leech Lake Band.

In 1991, we again applied to the LCMR for $250,000.00 in funding. At the same time, after developing a full scale business and operational plan, we received a commitment for a match from the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) and the BIA Business Development Division for $289,000.00. We were extremely fortunate to get the LCMR funding and then the ANA/BIA match followed. At about the same time we received additional commitments from the U.S. Forest Service for 80,000 yards of free fill material for pond levees from a nearby pit. We also received a donation from Great Lakes Gas Transmission, Inc. for $60,000.00 worth of 36 inch used steel pipe, plus welding and transportation, for our main drain. We were ready to begin!

In 1992, we had contracted with Fish Pro, Inc., a premier aquaculture engineering firm, to develop site plans and conceptual drawings. We were now able to contract with them to do blueprints and actual working plans and put them together a bid package to be able to find a competitive contractor. In 1993, the bid was awarded to Aspen Construction of Walker, MN and work began in earnest that fall. The initial excavation and levee construction was completed to subdivide half of one of the existing 20 acre ponds into 10 one acre ponds. A drainage swale was also built to treat pond discharge before its eventual return to the Mississippi River. The other 60 acres of ponds were left for potential use as a waterfowl management area.

In the spring of 1994, work began to install 2400 feet of fill line, 600 feet of 24 inch drain line, 3 manholes, and valves and cement work needed to construct individual harvest basins in each pond. To complete the ponds, a clayliner was placed 1 foot thick on the mineral soil banks. The connection to the existing water supply was made and the main drain line, 110 feet of 36 inch steel pipe, was welded and laid in place. Slide gates were installed on each catch basin and pond banks were seeded in the fall.

The spring of 1995 found us nearly ready to attempt our first rearing season. After the last few water connections were made for the fresh water supplies to each harvest basin, the ponds were tilled and filled in early May. We used 1000 lbs. of alfalfa meal and 100 lbs of brewer's yeast in each pond for fertilization throughout the growing season. We stocked walleye fry in three ponds in mid May, sucker fry in six ponds in June as part of a growing experiment with the Natural Resources Institute of Duluth and one pond with Lake Whitefish fingerlings. We had good production in all ponds with the production of 17,000 walleye fingerlings about 2.5 inches long in late July, over 750 lbs. of sucker minnows in September, and several hundred large whitefish fingerlings up to 7 inches. The whitefish were fed a formulated diet in the pond in late September. The production was good but several problems were identified and attempts to remedy them were made in September 1996.

Steel stairways and catwalks were installed on each catch basin in the fall of 1995 and spring of 1996. Aquatic vegetation was a problem our first growing season so we purchased a boat mounted bar-cutter to cut emergent and submergent vegetation in ponds. Undesirable species were entering the pond during the filling stage either as eggs or fry. We constructed mesh screens for the water inlets to prevent this from happening during our second season. During the late summer of 1995, we received Army Corps of Engineers' Section 1135 funding for $60,000.00 to match Circle of Flight funding. The funding was used to put drainage controls on the wildlife portion of the project as well as a screened lake inlet to provide for a cleaner water supply for both the 10 acres of fish rearing ponds and the 64 acres of managed waterfowl production ponds. The most important addition to the fishponds in 1996 was the installation of a pond airlift system for aeration and circulation of nutrients.

With the aid of the Alexandria Technical College Aquaculture class, we designed and constructed an airlift system to supply each pond. Each pond has two airlift pumps, each capable of circulating 50 to 100 GPM. The air is supplied by two Fuji regenerative blowers, each one powering the airlifts in 5 ponds. Over 1200 feet of 3 inch PVC pipe was buried in the pond levees by our staff using a rented trencher. This 3 inch pipe carries the air from the blowers to each set of airlifts. The system worked well this past season, however final installation was not completed until late July. The story of our airlift system can be told in another MTAN article. Weekly pond inspections and additions of fresh supplemental water were made and pond banks were mowed on a routine basis.

This past summer (1996), we reared walleyes in three ponds, tullibee (lake herring, Coregonus artedii) and muskellunge were used in two ponds, and suckers (as muskie forage) in five ponds. The muskie fingerlings were stocked in two of the sucker ponds. Good production was exhibited in the muskie ponds as we harvested 12 inch plus fish in late September and produced a total of 687 muskies in two ponds. The suckers were all used as muskie forage. The tullibee were reared on pellets and sold as bait in September. Our walleyes exhibited extremely slow growth because of the late, cool spring. In early August they were only 1 1/4 inches in length. We were also able to use Circle of Flight funding to construct some pools and nesting islands within the perimeter of the waterfowl management portion of the complex.

We used the waterfowl ponds in 1995 and 1996 to produce several broods of mallards, blue wing teal, a brood of goldeneyes, and 2 broods of Canada geese. Several wood duck houses were active along the ponds and produced broods as well. Controlled burns were conducted both seasons to remove the fuel buildup and undesirable vegetation. An adjacent 5 acre field was planted with native grasses with some success.

Plans for 1997 include the installation of a 12 foot high viewing platform and an interpretive trail describing the ecology of the associated wetlands.

Using an innovative approach of leveraging State funding with federal dollars and donations and private corporation contributions in addition to a great deal of financial and programmatic support from our Tribal Council, we are nearing completion of the 5 year plus project. The Leech Lake Reservation Division of Resources Management now feels that the Winnibigoshish Fish and Wildlife Pond Complex is once again truly "The Greatest"!!

Stripping, Fertilizing, and Incubating Walleye Eggs with Big Redd Incubators

By: Elizabeth Greiff, St. Croix Tribal, Natural Resources Department, P.O. Box 287, Hertel, WI 54845, 715-349-2195

Introduction

The St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin raise and stock fingerling walleyes to maintain populations in lakes harvested by Tribal members. Staff of the Tribe's Natural Resources Department have collected, spawned, and incubated walleye eggs for five years. Wild broodstock are captured with fyke nets during the walleye spawning season, the eggs and sperm are stripped, and the dry method used for fertilization. Fertilized eggs are incubated in Big Redd Incubators (Big Redd Incubators, Inc., Frazee, MN). After hatching, the fry are stocked in a natural pond. Harvest begins 4 to 5-wk later when the fingerlings are about 2 in (5 cm) long.

Spawning Wild Broodfish

Spawn collection is often coordinated with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) survey of adult walleye populations. The WDNR sets fyke nets in lakes in mid-April after the ice has thawed. The net crew notifies us when the peak of spawning approaches. We collect the ripe fish after the WDNR crew has taken their survey data. Because our 3-person crew collects the spawn and monitors the incubators, we try to strip all the spawn we need in 1 d.

Broodstock are separated by sex, then placed in separate 72-gal (272 L) steel basins in a jon boat. The water in the basins is not aerated, but is changed frequently. Spawning equipment in the boat includes a wooden spawning bench 15 x 36 x 16 in (38 x 91 x 41 cm) (width x length x height) with a circular hole cut in one end of the top to secure the 5-qt (5 L) plastic pan used for fertilization. The diameter of the hole allows the lip of the pan to rest on the bench surface. Two round pans are used to hold the spawn, one steel 1.5-gal (5.7 L) bucket to clean the fertilized eggs, and one 18-gal (68 L) square steel basin for claying the eggs.

Before collecting the gametes, the small bucket and one pan are half filled with lake water. The second pan is placed dry in the hole cut for it in the spawning bench. Milt from one male is stripped into the dry pan in the spawning bench. For stripping both males and females, the fish's head is held between the spawn collector's upper arm and side so that the arm from the elbow down remains free. With the other hand, the spawn collector grasps the fish just above the tail. The fish is held belly-down with its back arched over the basin. Milt or eggs are expressed by pressing the fish's abdomen firmly with the free hand beginning forward of the vent and working back toward it. Stripping is stopped if the milt (or eggs when stripping females) does not flow freely or if blood is seen. Care is also taken to prevent fish slime, water, or other matter from entering the pan. The male is released into the lake after stripping once, however, large males may be retained and stripped twice if few males are collected. A female is then stripped into the pan containing milt. If less than 2-3 cups (473-710 mL) of eggs are collected, a second female is stripped. After collecting the eggs, milt from another male is stripped over the eggs. Fertilization must be accomplished within about 2 min of stripping.

The milt and eggs are mixed by placing the fingers of one hand firmly against the bottom of the pan and stirring rapidly without lifting or touching the sides of the pan. After mixing to a homogenous color, water from the second pan is added to the spawn and this mixture of water, eggs, and milt is poured from pan to pan 3-4 times. To minimize egg clumping or sticking to the pans, the pans are shaken while the fertilized eggs are poured. At this point fertilization is complete.

The eggs are washed free of mucus and semen by pouring them into the small bucket (1.5 gal, 15.7 L) previously half filled with water. The eggs are swirled to prevent sticking by twisting the bucket. While swirling, half the water is decanted and replaced with fresh lake water. Rinsing is continued until the water in the bucket is clear.

The rinsed eggs are poured into a clay suspension and mixed thoroughly. The clay suspension is prepared in the square 18-gal (68 L) basin half filled with lake water. A handful of wet bentonite is added and stirred into suspension until the water feels slippery. Too much clay is better than not enough. The clay sticks to the eggs and prevents the eggs from clumping.

We repeat the procedure until we have stripped all available fish or have fertilized 10-20 qt of eggs from 15-30 female walleye.

The clay/egg basin is placed in shallow water in shade and the eggs are hardened in the clay suspension. The suspension is mixed periodically. The eggs take about 2 h to harden at 48-50F (8.9-10C). Eggs are tested for hardness by squeezing them between the thumb and forefinger. If they do not break, they are hard. When the eggs have hardened, they are poured into a 12 x 4 in (30.5 x 10.2 cm) deep window screen box and all the clay is rinsed off with lake water. Clean eggs are placed into an 18-gal (68-L) plastic ice-chest in a layer no more than 4 in (10 cm) deep with most of the balance of the ice-chest filled with lake water. It usually takes about 8 hr between the first fertilization and arrival at the incubators.

Incubation

We used two Big Redd Incubators to hatch our walleye eggs. Each incubator can hold 11 qts (9.9 L) of walleye eggs. Because the incubators are portable, they can be set up where the best water quality is found and dismantled for cleaning and storage after the eggs have hatched. Since 1990, a temporary hatchery has been set up in the facilities of the Tribal Construction Company. The water source is a well. In 1990, water samples were taken before the water entered the incubator. In 1994, water was sampled directly from the incubators prior to egg introduction. The different sampling locations account for the differences in water quality.

The incubators are connected separately to a water line with clear 3/16 in ID (4.8 mm) plastic tubing, and after passage thorough the incubators, water is discharged to a floor drain. Compressed air is generated with an AC, 115-V, 60-Hz air pump that supplies each incubator independently. A DC air compressor and a 12-V marine deep-cycle battery is available in case of electrical failure.

The basic incubator structure is a 9 x 12 x 30 in (23 cm x 30 cm x 76 cm) clear plastic holding tank. The tank holds 11 clear plastic removable tubes mounted on a base plate through which water circulates. The tubes are 2.5 x 2.5 x 30 in (6.4 x 6.4 x 76.2 cm). Each of the 11 tubes can hold a quart or liter of eggs, but we do not use the two interior tubes because the eggs cannot be observed from the side. The tank's standpipe, with three water level settings, piezometer, and airlift assembly fits into the twelfth space. The airlift assembly circulates and oxygenates the water with perforated plastic tubing connected to the air line at the bottom of the tank.

Before eggs are placed in the incubators, they are gently rolled through a screen box with 5/32 in (4.0 mm) mesh to break up any remaining clumps. At the same time, the eggs are gradually brought to the same temperature as the incubator water by the addition of warm or cool water. The WDNR V-trough method and walleye egg count chart, modeled after the Von Bayer method but specific for walleye, is used to determine the number of eggs/qt. We measure about 0.95qt (900-mL) of eggs into each tube.

Once the eggs are in the incubators, we monitor air flow, water exchange rate, piezometer head level, dissolved oxygen, water temperature, and pH every 4 h, until the fry are removed. Carbon dioxide is measured once a day. We do not monitor ammonia because traces of formalin used to treat the eggs for fungus interfere with the performance of the ammonia test kit. Differences between incubators occur because each incubator operates as a separate unit, with individual water, air intake lines, and controls.

Air flow is determined by measuring the head of water in the piezometer above the tank's water level. Air flow varies with the stage of incubation.

Eggs are loaded with a piezometer reading of 0.47 in (12 mm), incubated prior to hatching at 0.98 in (25 mm), and hatched out at 1.69 in (43 mm). Fry are held in the tank with a piezometer reading of 1.69 in (43 mm). During the fungicide treatments, the air flow is adjusted so that the piezometer reads 0.98 in (25 mm). Air flow is controlled by a valve in the air supply tube. Each tank also has an airstone, controlled by an auxiliary air supply valve, to increase dissolved oxygen if necessary.

The water exchange rate is measured at the tank's outlet and is controlled with two valves per incubator in the water supply tube. We use the manufacturer's water flow recommendation of 500 mL/min as a minimum and manipulate the water flow primarily to control temperature. In the small room where the incubators are held, altering room temperature also controls tank temperature. The incubators are equipped with aquarium heaters but they are fragile, and have broken inside the tank. They also crowd the tank. Temperature is more effectively controlled by manipulating water flow and room temperature.

Dissolved oxygen is measured with a two-probe electric meter. Temperature and pH are measured with a battery-operated meter in each tank. Both dissolved oxygen and pH meters operate continuously. Carbon dioxide is measured by titration.

The hardest water quality parameters to maintain within desirable limits have been dissolved oxygen and temperature. Dissolved oxygen drops significantly during the hatch and when fry are in the incubators. When DO drops to 5 ppm, we use the air compressor to increase oxygen levels. Pure oxygen could be used for aeration, but this has not been necessary. Water flow and room temperature are adjusted as needed, usually several times a day, to maintain the desired water temperature. We have never had problems maintaining other water quality parameters.

Two to three d after loading the eggs into the incubators, both tanks are treated for 15 min with 4,500 ppm formalin to control fungus. We have used concentrations of 2,200-3,300 ppm in previous years, but they were ineffective. After the 15 min treatment, the water is drained from the tanks to the lowest standpipe level by removing the upper section of the standpipe. The tank is flushed for 10 min, with both main and auxiliary water valves fully open. After flushing, the standpipe is replaced and the tank is refilled. The fungicide treatment is repeated every 48 h until the fry are removed from the incubators. Most unfertilized eggs that move to the top of the egg mass can be siphoned off. The volume of dead eggs is measured.

During 1990-1994, the average operating water temperature was 51.3F (10.7C). At that temperature, the eggs eye-up in 9 d (173.7 TU, where TU= temperature - 3 2F x days) and begin to hatch in 13-14 d (251-277 TU). We induce complete hatch 3 d after hatching begins by pouring 129-145F (54-63C) tap water into the airlift assembly at about I qt/min (0.9 L/min) until the tank water temperature has increased by 37F (3C). The increased temperature is maintained for 20 min by the addition of more hot water. After 20 min, the water temperature is allowed to return to the normal operating range of 50-53F (10-11.7C). The rapid hatching that follows generates foam where aeration agitates the water. The incubators are equipped with flexible tubing that fits over the airlift assembly to withdraw foam. Hatching is complete by day 18. We keep the fry in the incubators four more days. The number of fry is determined by subtracting the volume of siphoned dead eggs from the initial volume of eggs placed into each tube.

The average hatch rate is 78%, and has ranged from 73-87%. The fertilization rate cannot be deduced from the hatch rate because eggs lost to fungus are included in the volume of dead eggs. However, in 1994, when there was almost no fungal growth during incubation, the mean hatch rate was 83%. In 1992, when all fertilized eggs died, probably due to temperature shock, the WDNR gave us eyed eggs to hatch. The average hatch rate, starting with eyed eggs, was 96%. Extrapolating from this observation suggests that loss to fungus infection ranges from 4-5%.

We do not transport fry in the incubators although Big Redd literature says it's possible. We tried it once, using a DC air pump, but were unable to maintain air or water flow through the tanks. We transport eggs in boxed, 10-gal (38 L) plastic bags half filled with water that is supersaturated with oxygen.

Cleaning the Big Redd Incubators is time consuming because they have to be completely dismantled. All incubator parts and other equipment that comes into contact with eggs or fry must be sterilized with an overnight soak in a 20-ppm solution of 70% active chlorine. Everything is soaked a second night in household rust remover (sodium hydrosulfite and bisulfite). The chlorine is removed in a third overnight soak of sodium thiosulfate solution four times more concentrated than the chlorine bath. Finally, every piece is washed with dish soap and water and thoroughly rinsed. The incubators are stored at room temperature in their original boxes.

Big Redd Incubator operation is most labor intensive during and after the hatch because the egg shells must be removed manually, and fry that are removed with them must be sorted and returned to the tank. If the eggshells are not removed, they will impede circulation and eventually cause the incubators to overflow.

Siphoning dead eggs is also time consuming. The incubators must be monitored regularly to adjust water and air flow and to measure water quality. Although they require considerable attention, they can be set up anywhere where there is suitable water and a drain. The incubators and associated equipment require very little space. Big Redd Incubators have been indispensable in establishing St. Croix's walleye culture program.

Status of Aquaculture Drugs

PRESENTED AT THE NORTH CENTRAL AND MINNESOTA ANNUAL AQUACULTURE CONFERENCE FEBRUARY 17-18, 1995, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

By: Terry Ott, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, La Crosse Fish Health Center, La Crosse, WI, 608-783-8444

Rapid expansion of the aquaculture industry and increased human consumption of aquatic animals has generated a safety concern in this country. Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have begun to enforce regulations that govern the use of how antibiotics and chemicals are used in aquaculture; especially when they are used on food fish. The economic problem with this enforcement is that aquaculture programs lack properly approved chemotherapeutants to eliminate or reduce disease-related mortality and improve production efficiency and product quality. The lack of approved drugs in aquaculture is due to their high registration cost, and general lack of interest by the pharmaceutical industry in developing aquaculture products.

Before a chemotherapeutant can be registered for use in aquaculture, it must be studied according to regulations established by FDA. Registration requires the collection of data on human safety, efficacy against target organisms, toxicity to nontarget organisms, residues in food animals, and effects on the environment. The bottom line is that there is no profitability in developing registered drugs for aquaculture use when there exists a potentially small market.

Only three chemotherapeutants and one anesthetic are currently approved and available for use in this country. These are formalin, oxytetracycline, Romet-30 and MS-222; respectively.

Formalin has been used since 1909 in the United States in the production of recreational, commercial, and experimental fishes. It is approved as a therapeutant and prophylactic for the control of external parasites on salmon, trout, catfish, largemouth bass, and bluegill; and for the control of fungi on salmon, trout and esocid eggs.

Oxytetracycline (Terramycin) has proven to be a highly effective antibiotic in the treatment of a wide variety of susceptible gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial diseases. It is approved as a feed additive for use only in catfish and salmon.

Romet-30, another antibiotic, is approved for control of enteric septicemia caused by Edwardsiella ictaluri in catfish and furunculosis Aeromonas salmonicida in trout and salmon.

MS-222 (Finquel) is approved for the temporary immobilization of fish, amphibians, and other aquatic, cold-blooded animals. It has long been recognized as a valuable tool for the proper handling of fish during manual spawning, weighing, measuring, marking, transport, and research.

Several prominent aquaculture groups requested and obtained rulings from FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) regarding the regulatory status of key aquaculture chemicals. Petitions for those chemotherapeutants that the aquaculture groups felt were effective, safe, and had data available were submitted to CVM for acceptance in their low regulatory priority (LRP) program.

CVM did not object to the use of those drugs classified as LRP's if they were used under the following conditions;

• Administered at the prescribed levels, according to good management practices of an appropriate grade for use on food animals.
  
• The drug was not likely to cause an adverse effect on the environment.

CVM recognized the importance of providing provisions to allow the use of certain unapproved drugs until the aquaculture industry had a chance to develop data for full approvals.

Following is a list of LRP's and their uses;

• Acetic acid - fish parasiticide
• Calcium chloride - osmoregulatory and transport aid
• Carbon dioxide gas - fish anesthetic
• Fuller's earth - egg adhesive reducer
• Garlic - helminth and crustacea control in salmon
• Hydrogen peroxide - fungicide on fish and their eggs
• Ice - transport aid
• Magnesium sulfate - external monogene and crustacea control
• Onion - external crustacea control in salmon
• Papain - egg adhesive reducer
• Potassium chloride - osmoregulatory aid
• Povidone iodine compounds - fish egg disinfectant
• Sodium bicarbonate - fish anesthetic
• Sodium chloride - osmoregulatory aid and parasiticide
• Sodium sulfite - egg hatching aid
• Tannic acid and urea - egg adhesive reducer
• Thiamine hydrochloride - thiamine deficiency treatment
  

All the remaining chemotherapeutants considered to be fish drugs by CVM are only to be used under the provision of an Investigational New Animal Drug (INAD) exemption. INAD's are being granted to producer groups and agencies willing to accept the responsibility of administering their INAD's. After a given period of time, each INAD must be renewed by CVM. Under a INAD exemption, data must be generated to support the approval of the drug; if it is not, the INAD will not be renewed. The INAD process will work only if INAD's lead to approved New Animal Drug Applications (NADA's).

Chemotherapeutants nearing approval, and their attended uses are;

• Formalin - microbicide for all fish and fish eggs
• Copper sulfate - microbicide for all fish
• HCG - spawning aid for all fish
• Erythromycin - for treatment of BKD in salmonids
• Crude carp pituatory - spawning aid in fish
• Oxytetracycline - marking agent for all fish

Chemotherapeutants anticipated for NADA approvals by the year 2000;

• Amoxicillin - microbicide in salmonids, stripped bass, tilapia, catfish
• Chloramine - T - a treatment for BGD and flexibacteriosis in fish
• Diquat - a treatment for BGD and flexibacteriosis in fish
• Hydrogen peroxide - fungicide treatment in fish
• LHRH_a - spawning aid in fish
• Oxytetracycline - microbicide in shrimp
• Potassium permanganate - microbicide for all fish
• Sarafloxacin - antibiotic for "hole in head" disease

The first provision has already been discussed and was the designation of drugs as LRP's. The second provision for use of unapproved drugs is somewhat limited, but it offers some relief to the aquaculture community.

Under the extra-label use criteria, only formalin could be prescribed for use on species other than those on the label by practicing veterinarians. CVM has also decided that extra-label use of medicated feeds is allowed in aquaculture when the medicated feeds mixed with oxytetracycline or Romet-30 are formulated and labeled properly in accordance with medicated feed regulations. Drugs approved for terrestrial animals can be used in aquaculture under the same provisions. CVM will allow extra-label drug use if the health of the animals are threatened, and if suffering or death would result from failure to treat the affected animals.

If you have some questions about the chemotherapeutant approval process, or what drugs you legally can use to treat your sick fish, give me a call at the La Crosse Fish Health Center (608) 783-8444.

Marketing Concepts

AQUACULTURE INFORMATION SERIES: NO. 1

By: G. William Klontz, M.S., D.V.M., Technical Services Advisor, Nelson and Sons, Inc., 118 West 4800 South, P.O. Box 57428, Murry, UT. 84157-0428, 1-800-521-9092

The MTAN is very happy to begin publishing a series of articles that have been contributed by G. William Klontz, M.S., D.V.M.. Dr. Klontz has previously worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a fish pathologist and a professor at the University of Idaho in Moscow. Dr. Klontz was one of the first "Fish Vets" who helped to shape the fish diagnostic policies we currently use. Employed now as the Technical Services Advisor for Nelson and Sons, Inc, Dr. Klontz assists with all aspects of fish rearing and fish health.

Introduction

The process of producing a marketable foodfish is usually quite uneventful, despite episodes of infectious and noninfectious diseases. However, what to do with the fish when they become market size often creates a sense of panic because most fish farmers have limited experience with marketing. The majority of texts addressing the art and science of aquaculture describe the various individual components of an aquaculture system in detail with little attention to the processes of planning and implementing production. Totally lacking, in most cases, is some attention to marketing farm-raised products.

Marketing begins with an assessment of what the market expectations are for table fish. These must be established BEFORE beginning the production planning process. Based upon the opinions of those who practice this concept, this is the best known way to assure having a long-standing and profitable business venture. The market expectations can best be described as the PRODUCT DEFINITION, which consists of when, how many, of what size fish prepared in what fashion, for a specific market niche.

Developing the Product Definition

The Product Definition is based on the marketing potential, which is based upon evaluating quantitative data collected from the marketplace. The majority of the required data can be collected by responding to the "Five W" questions; namely, WHO is buying WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, and WHY?

The process of collecting the data can be quite sophisticated; e.g., retain a professional marketing survey consultancy, or it can be quite simple; e.g., conduct a "door-to-door" survey. In some regions, public agricultural agencies and universities can collect the necessary data as part of their service missions.

In outline form, the "Five W" questions and their sources of response materials are:

1. Who Is Buying?

Retailer, Chef, Homemaker, Processor, Wholesaler, Live-hauler, Fee-fishing proprietor.

Each of these individuals is probably the third or later person to judge the quality of the product. The first and second persons are the producer and the processor, respectively. The final judge of product quality is usually the diner. If a product of less than desirable quality is presented, the likelihood of return purchases is very slim. Thus, quality control must begin on the farm.

2. What Are They Buying?

Product style - alive, round, eviscerated fillet, pin bone in fillet, pin bone out value-added smoked, pate, ready-to-cook items.

• Presentation - fresh iced, fresh frozen, canned, shelf-packs
• Quantity - total weight, numbers, servings
  

3. Where Are They Buying?

Farm, Processor, wholesaler, Restaurants, Retail outlets, Regional.

Many nontraditional markets are not served by the rainbow trout community. Among these are sales to convention centers, institutions (schools, hospitals, and retirement centers), and airlines. The capture fishery and channel catfish products have done rather well in these markets. According to a limited nationwide survey of distributors and retailers of rainbow trout in America reported by McCain and Guenthner (1991), preferences were heavily in favor of a frozen, individually "sleeved", boned (pinbones removed, skin on), portion-controlled fillet. Value-added rainbow trout products have been slow in getting into the marketplace while salmon and channel catfish value-added products enjoy high acceptance in the marketplace.

4. When Are They Buying?

• Season
• Time

Availability of value-added products in America is limited.

Iced - round, dressed, fillets, 

Frozen - dressed, boned, boned and breaded, boned and stuffed fillets

Smoked - dressed, fillets, boned, sausage, roll

Kippered - dressed, fillets, boned

Production planning should be based upon this aspect, especially if the product is being sold as a fresh, unfrozen item with an established "Sell By" or "Pull By" date. Even with freezing to extend the shelf life, farmed fish should have a "Pull-By" date because it is still a highly perishable product.

5. Why Are They Buying?

Quality, Timeliness, Portion control, Price, Service, Satisfaction.

This is the "bottom-line" of successful production and marketing. It has been said many times "Selling is not marketing - Marketing is selling". The foregoing criteria are listed in an approximate order of priority. Note the relative position of price. Purchasers are willing to pay a fair price for a high quality product which is available in the desired portion size at the time it is needed. Most restaurants set their menu price using a multiplier of the cost of ingredients. So, price is important but is "passed along" to the diner, who must be satisfied with the presentation, food quality, and service.

Additional information about marketing farmed fish can be obtained from publications by McCain and Guenthner (1991), Smith and Klontz (1991), Avault (1991), and Chaston (1983). Of the four, the Chaston text is the most comprehensive and should be used as a basis for developing a marketing plan.

3 Hatchery Tips

1) Fish culture is indeed an art and not a science. Like all forms of art, we can expand our appreciation and knowledge by sharing with others the various works of art we have seen/learned . So keep practicing your art, and just allow the science to happen.

2) Aquaculturists, fish farmers and county extension fishery experts accustomed to using time consuming, costly laboratory tests to check water quality, now have a fast, easy and reliable alternative.

Test strips -- long used in the medical diagnostic industry for fast, accurate testing of body fluids, are now being used in the aquaculture industry to detect and measure conditions such as pH., hardness and alkalinity, as well as concentrations of nitrites, chloride and chlorine.

Manufactured by "Environmental Test Systems", Elkhart, Indiana, the test strips require just seconds of operator time to use, cost only pennies per test, and provide accurate, on-the-spot results without special laboratory tests or technical training.

3) Keeton Industries, Inc. have three innovative solutions for problems sometimes influencing aquatic environments:

ALGAE-TRON - microbes consume phosphorous and nitrogen compounds naturally. ALGAE-TRON removes excess phosphorous and nitrogen from the water column, reducing algae blooms and clearing "Green Water Ponds".

WASTE & SLUDGE REDUCER Eutrophic pond and lakes produce excess amounts of algae, aquatic vascular plants, and phytoplankton. This dead biomass is constantly raining to the pond bottom, accumulating as rich organic sludge high in phosphorus and other nutrients. These nutrients, if not broken down by biological processes are constantly recycled into the water column perpetuating excessive algae blooms and aquatic plant cycles.

KI-NITRIFIER - A complete blend of beneficial nitrifying bacteria that will oxidize ammonia (NH₃) KI-NITRIFIER will completely convert toxic nitrites (NO₂) to nitrates (NO₃) in a pond or lake environment. Billions of nitrosomonas, nitrobacters and other naturally occurring beneficial microbes attack and breakdown toxic ammonia and nitrites. KI-NITRIFIER comes packaged in refrigerated gel packs to guarantee the stability of the nitrifying bacteria. KI-NITRIFIER is shipped Overnight or Second Day Air, thus assuring the potency of the product. A long shelf life is standard because the viability of unused product can be maintained through refrigeration.

3) Pond selection criteria to improve sucker production in outside rearing ponds:

• Select water sources with higher water conductivity. This will increase potential food sources and decrease fish related stress factors.
• Reduce the number of competitive fish species in the pond.
• Improve wind access to the lake (a path parallel to the longest side of the lake is best).

   

  Product and company names mentioned in this publication are for informational purposes only. It does not imply endorsement by the MTAN or the U.S. Government.

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