What Are the Prospects for Cold-Water Fish Farming? A Detailed Guide to Farming Methods

Cold-water fish are living fossils in the water. In our country, cold-water fish species are numerous and resources are abundant, and after more than 50 years of development the cold-water fish industry has begun to take shape. To enter this industry, we need to understand what the prospects for cold-water fish farming are, and what the methods are.

1. What are cold-water fish

The concept of cold-water fish was put forward by people based on the living habits of fish. It usually refers to fish that live in waters of 18°C-23°C. Cold-water fish mainly include cold-water salmonids and trout, sub-cold-water sturgeon, and schizothoracine fish.

2. What are the prospects for cold-water fish farming

1. The living environment of cold-water fish is of relatively high quality, and most live in clean, pollution-free waters, which determines their pollution-free product characteristics. Freely grown cold-water fish have tender meat, no intermuscular bones, and are rich in unsaturated fatty acids such as EHA and DHA. They have high nutritional value and relatively high economic value.

2. From the perspective of natural conditions, our country has the foundation to vigorously develop salmonid cold-water fish farming. The cold-water resources currently available for use in our country have a flow of more than 5000 cubic meters per second, and the potential for cold-water fish farming exceeds 500,000 tons. In 2018, the annual output of salmonid and trout farming accounted for only 8% of the available resources.

3. Our country's cold-water resources are mostly distributed in the Northeast, Northwest, North China, and Southwest regions. Rationally developing the cold-water fish industry based on local natural resources is of great significance to industrial poverty alleviation and the development of modern fisheries. In many regions, finance departments carry out poverty alleviation in combination with industry according to local actual conditions. Local farmers can also attract investment according to local natural advantages.

For example, Jiangkou County is located on the southeast side of Mount Fanjing, in a karst mountainous area, with abundant cold-water resources and good water quality, making it very suitable for cold-water fish farming. Based on its own resource advantages, the local area vigorously attracts investment. By the end of 2017, 12 sites had been developed and utilized, 12 bases had been built, the farming area reached 5000 mu, and output reached 3100 tons. The county adopted the model of “company + cooperative (or farm) + poor households”, achieving maximum benefits, not only improving the lives of local people but also solving employment problems.

4. Our country's cold-water fish industry is still in the development stage, and farming models and product forms are relatively single. Through technical guidance, project support, and capital introduction, farmers are enabled to vigorously develop the cold-water fish industry. At the same time, on the basis of local conditions, they should expand markets outward, develop new products, and develop derivative industries based on cold-water fish. Aquatic products, fisheries, and tourism can be combined.

For example, Sichuan has already become a major province in the cold-water fish industry. Its cold-water fish industry, featuring salmonids and trout, sturgeon, Ya fish, and native fish, has strong development momentum, with a farming area of 100,000 cubic meters of water and an annual output value of more than 1 billion. Not only that, they have also made caviar into their new calling card. At present, output has reached 20 tons and export volume has reached 18 tons. More than one-third of the output value of recreational fisheries comes from the cold-water fish industry. This year, the Sichuan Provincial Department of Finance, in combination with poverty alleviation policies, invested 8 million yuan to support local cold-water fish farming.

2. What are the methods for cold-water fish farming

1. At present, the main types are salmonids and trout and sturgeon. The selected farming water area must have good conditions and low water temperature, preferably 10-18°C. Spring water or clear river water can be selected as the farming water source.

2. The construction of the farming pond must meet the needs of healthy farming. A rectangular structure with rounded corners is best, with no dead corners, reasonable water flow, and fish able to distribute evenly throughout the pond. The drainage outlet of the fish pond should be equipped with facilities for discharging waste. One layer of fish-blocking grating and two layers of gate boards can be set up, using an inverted siphon drainage method;

The water supply of the fish pond should adopt a parallel water supply method to reduce opportunities for cross-infection of fish diseases. If the water supply conditions of the fish pond are poor and series water supply is used, a sedimentation pond should be set below the drainage outlet to reduce the harm to fish in the pond below from residual bait, fish feces, and other metabolites.

3. Although the stocking density of cold-water fish can increase with greater water exchange volume and dissolved oxygen, if the stocking density of cold-water fish is too high, it may cause turbid water and rising water chemical indicators, further affecting the fish's survival and sensory condition, leading to slower growth and weaker disease resistance.

Feed scientifically according to various conditions such as density, fish school condition, and water temperature.

4. In order to let cold-water fish grow healthily, during the farming process it is necessary to always pay attention to the sanitary conditions of the farming pond. Regularly clean up residue and waste. When the water source is insufficient and the pond water temperature is high, aeration equipment and supplementary groundwater can be used to increase dissolved oxygen in the water and lower the water temperature; disinfection inside the pond should be done well.

5. In addition to ordinary feed, some nutritional bait such as inorganic salts also needs to be put in regularly. This is done to give cold-water fish better disease resistance and at the same time help the fish body accumulate more nutrients.

6. When introducing new varieties in each region, quarantine work must be done well to prevent diseased fish from being mixed in.

Cold-water fish farming needs to be carried out in combination with local excellent natural resources. With the support of industrial poverty alleviation policies, it should be done well and brought to life. Starting from the local market and developing outward, many cold-water fish farmers have now gone abroad.