When starting a hatchery, you
first need to learn the different avenues you can pursue when going in to the
fish farming business. First define your reason for starting a fish farm, since
fish are raised for a variety of reasons like hobbies, food supply and
sometimes ornamental. Farming fish can be a very successful enterprise, but
like with any business it’s a big risk. To minimize risk its important to learn
as much as you can about starting and running a fish farm venture in Africa.
A) QUESTION 1: DEFINE THE PURPOSE
OF YOUR FISH FARM & HAVE A CLEAR REASON FOR WHY YOU STARTING THE BUSINESS?
B) QUESTION 2: WILL YOU FARM FISH
FOR FOOD, HOBBY OR ORNAMENT?
C) QUESTION 3: WILL THE FISH FARM
BE YOUR MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME, ADDITIONAL INCOME OR AS A HOBBY?
Step 1 : Learn The Industry
For the next several months make
it your aim to acquire as much knowledge about fish farming as you can. Learn
all you can about the business side of owning and running a fish farm, the more
you know the less mistakes you will make. This will ensure you make educated
decisions when starting your business.
I strongly recommend taking some
training, online courses, or participating in programs related to fish farming
and marine biology. Its not enough to just get a container and drop a few fish
in there, you have to understand fish reproduction, feeding habits, best
maintenance practices, and disease prevention and elimination.
Another great way to arm your mind
with valuable information is to visit a few fish farms and chat with their
owners and workers. Find out what their day to day challenges are and how they
resolves these issues. This probably one of the best choices as you’ll get some
very accurate, real world information, that you can employ once you start your
venture.
To find some farms to visit go
online and search for fish farm websites, contact them and schedule a visit.
Another great idea will be to
consider getting a part-time job working at a fish farm. Nothing beats practical
hard nose experience….frankly it is the best. If they aren’t hiring, don’t fret
ask if you can volunteer a few days a week or on the weekends, everybody loves
free labor.
Step 2 : The Business, Security
& Location Selection
Do you have the proper location to
establish a successful fish farm? If not will you buy or rent a location?
What type of water source do you
have on the land where you plan to farm? Is it a constant water source ? Will
you have to truck water in? What types of fish would best thrive in the water?
What are the weather conditions in
the area? Is the land prone to flooding?
Are there predators around that
you will have to contend with? In African countries security is a big concern,
consider local crime rates and determine potential internal shrinkage. What
kind of security measures will you have? Armed guard? Surveillance cameras?
Guard dogs?
Are there any buildings? How much
construction will have to take place to begin the business? Do you need any
special permits to begin the business?
Do you have room if expansion is
needed? Is there enough room to house and transport the fish?
Who is your target market?
Do you have a buyer for the fish?
What type of market is out there for the fish you plan to harvest?
Have you talked with any industry
representatives? What type of fish is the best option for starting your
business?
Have you contacted people to
assist you on special issues that arise?
Discover how much money is need to
start your business. How much money do you need to begin digging ponds and
buying your initial fish to stock them?
Analyze your savings, investments
and assets.
Consider trying to obtain a small
business loan.
Do you have a financial plan in
place and is it realistic?
What type of cash flow are you
expecting?
How much staff will need? Do you
plan on training them? What is the typical salary structure?
Contact the appropriate people to
get the business started.
Construction and equipment needs
will need to be taken care of first.
Find a seller for your initial
stocking to begin the fish farm.
Step 3: Equipment You’ll Need:
ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT
#Pumps
Questions and concerns about
operating tanks and net enclosures inside a body of water. Evaporation during
warm-weather months and splash-out causes the water in the pond to decrease. To
ensure the fish have adequate fresh water, pumps fill the small ponds or lakes
used for fish farming with fresh water from a larger nearby freshwater source.
Even before the end of a growing cycle, or at the end of the growing season in
areas where the pond gets dirty due to large amount of dust particles in a lot
of African countries, the farmer will drain the water from the pond more
frequently. He also uses the pumps, being quicker and more efficient for this
purpose. In some areas, especially where it’s possible to run the fish farm
year round, the pumps send the used water to a recycling pool where special
processes remove the impurities. The pump then moves the clean water back into
the fish tank for use with a new hatch of fish.
Two most common types of pond
pumps used are centrifugal and turbine. Centrifugal pumps set horizontally
along the outer perimeter of the fish pond or lake. Turbine pumps set
vertically. Both styles are efficient at moving water.
#Aeration Devices
Yes fish have gills, but they
still need oxygen..Even with pumps moving water in and out of the fish-growing
water source, it may be necessary to use aeration devices to give the fish an
adequate supply of oxygen. Aeration devices allow you to have more fish in less
space as well. For indoor fish farming recirculation aquaculture systems, or
RAS, are the best choice for growing fish inside tanks housed in buildings. The
aeration devices also make it easier to recycle the water after removing
impurities.
#Seine Reels
Eventually you’re going to start
harvesting the fish, seine reels make the process of collecting from the water
a lot easier. The seine sinks to the bottom of the pond or lake. With the
assistance of a tractor on shore with a power take off, the reel begins to
gather in the outer edges of the seine. As it does so, the seine gathers fish
into its net. The reel pulls the fish inside the seine to shore where special
hoists transfer the fish to sorting or grading equipment. During the gathering
process the aerators must operate a full speed to provide oxygen for the fish
while they are in close proximity to each other.
#Handling and Grading Equipment
In order to properly price fish
you harvest, you must first learn how to grade them. Fish are typically graded
by size, there’s equipment you can buy to do just that.. Belts rapidly move
fish from the seine to the holding tank. During the transfer, grading equipment
can sort them into as many as three different grades. You can also count the
fish at this point with counting equipment. Once the fish are graded, if
transferring more than a few second walk you must have special aerated trucks.
The fish go to market and storage in the tank trucks.
These are the core items and tasks
you need to check off your list to get started,if done properly this can be a
great business to start and run.
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