AquacultureAquaculture An Overview of Georgia’s Aquatic Farming An Overview of Georgia’s Aquatic Farming

Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office

Dr. Frank Flanders and Scott RegisterApril 2006

ObjectivesObjectives

Students will be able to:Students will be able to: Explain the importance of the aquaculture Explain the importance of the aquaculture

industry in Georgia.industry in Georgia. Name 4 cultivars of the aquaculture industry.Name 4 cultivars of the aquaculture industry. Define and give one example of polyculture.Define and give one example of polyculture. Identify top aquaculture producing counties in Identify top aquaculture producing counties in

Georgia. Georgia. Rank the Aquaculture Industry compared to Rank the Aquaculture Industry compared to

other Georgia agricultural commodities.other Georgia agricultural commodities.

Why is the aquaculture industry important?Why is the aquaculture industry important?

Aquaculture has been around for thousands of years.Aquaculture has been around for thousands of years. Georgians consume about 258.5 million pounds of Georgians consume about 258.5 million pounds of

seafood annually. seafood annually. There are now over 100,000 privately owned ponds There are now over 100,000 privately owned ponds

and lakes in Georgia.  This represents over 260,000 and lakes in Georgia.  This represents over 260,000 acres of useable water.acres of useable water.

There are over 20 different fin fish species grown in There are over 20 different fin fish species grown in Georgia, in addition to these there are several Georgia, in addition to these there are several shellfish, mollusks, reptiles, and amphibians.shellfish, mollusks, reptiles, and amphibians.

Categories of aquatic speciesCategories of aquatic species

1. Fin Fish1. Fin Fish

2. Crustaceans2. Crustaceans

3. Mollusks3. Mollusks

4. Reptiles4. Reptiles

5. Amphibians5. Amphibians

Fin FishFin Fish

The most common cultured fish in Georgia is catfishThe most common cultured fish in Georgia is catfish Mostly channel and blueMostly channel and blue

Tilapia is highly valuedTilapia is highly valued Trout in certain conditions and areasTrout in certain conditions and areas Pan fish, such as bluegill, redear, and crappiePan fish, such as bluegill, redear, and crappie Several different bass are also raised:Several different bass are also raised:

largemouth, smallmouth, striped, and hybrid stripedlargemouth, smallmouth, striped, and hybrid striped

These are a few of the fin fish cultured in These are a few of the fin fish cultured in GeorgiaGeorgia

CrustaceansCrustaceans

The most common crustacean in Georgia The most common crustacean in Georgia aquaculture is the fresh water prawnaquaculture is the fresh water prawn Harder to raise than fishHarder to raise than fish Valued for their tail ( Valued for their tail ( ≥ 40% of body weight )≥ 40% of body weight )

Other crustaceans include:Other crustaceans include:Shrimp, lobster, crayfish, and crabsShrimp, lobster, crayfish, and crabs

- - Of these lobster is the hardest to culture in Georgia

MollusksMollusks

The mollusk population of Georgia is one of The mollusk population of Georgia is one of the most diverse and abundant found the most diverse and abundant found anywhere in the world anywhere in the world

The most popular species that are cultured are The most popular species that are cultured are oysters, abalone, and clamsoysters, abalone, and clams

Mollusk are used as food, bait, or shell Mollusk are used as food, bait, or shell productsproducts

Reptiles and AmphibiansReptiles and Amphibians

A new part of the aquaculture industry.A new part of the aquaculture industry. The species cultured are: frogs, turtles, and The species cultured are: frogs, turtles, and

alligators.alligators. Because this industry is new there are few Because this industry is new there are few

farms in the state but it is growing rapidly.farms in the state but it is growing rapidly.

PolyculturePolyculture

Refers to aquaculture integrated with other Refers to aquaculture integrated with other agricultural activities, where wastes produced by agricultural activities, where wastes produced by one activity may be inputs for another activity. one activity may be inputs for another activity.

These can include:These can include: a fish-crustacean systema fish-crustacean system a fish-fish systema fish-fish system a fish-plant systema fish-plant system

Leading Georgia CountiesLeading Georgia Counties

Number of Production Number of Production FacilitiesFacilities

1 1 SeminoleSeminole 2 2 JeffersonJefferson 3 3 HancockHancock 4 4 UpsonUpson 5 5 BakerBaker 6 6 FloydFloyd 7 7 DoughertyDougherty 8 8 JasperJasper 9 9 Jeff DavisJeff Davis10 10 ButtsButts

Average Pound per Acre

1 Decatur 10,000 2 Terrell 5,250 3 Baker 5,000 4 Floyd4,300 5 Coffee 4,000 6 Berrien 3,150 7 Harris 3,150 8 Irwin

3,000 9 Burke 2,500 10 Jefferson2,500

Aquaculture’s Rank in GeorgiaAquaculture’s Rank in GeorgiaItems and Ranking of SalesItems and Ranking of Sales Sales (in $1000) Percent of Total Sales Sales (in $1000) Percent of Total Sales

1. Poultry and eggs1. Poultry and eggs 2,780,2142,780,214 56.656.62. Vegetables, melons, 2. Vegetables, melons,

potatoes, and sweet potatoespotatoes, and sweet potatoes 383,556383,556 7.87.83. Cotton and cottonseed3. Cotton and cottonseed 318,013318,013 6.56.54. Nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, 4. Nursery, greenhouse, floriculture,

and sod and sod 315,324315,324 6.46.45. Other crops and hay 5. Other crops and hay 246,936246,936 5.05.06. Cattle and calves6. Cattle and calves 240,070240,070 4.94.97. Milk and other dairy products 7. Milk and other dairy products

from cowsfrom cows 212,720212,720 4.34.38. Fruits, tree nuts, and berries 8. Fruits, tree nuts, and berries  122,151122,151 2.52.59. Grains, oilseeds, dry beans, 9. Grains, oilseeds, dry beans,

and dry peasand dry peas 102,464102,464 2.12.110. Tobacco10. Tobacco 89,058 89,058 1.81.811. Hogs and pigs11. Hogs and pigs12. Horses, ponies, mules, burros,12. Horses, ponies, mules, burros,

and donkeys and donkeys  65,384 65,384 1.31.313. Other animals and other animal products13. Other animals and other animal products 9,944 9,944 0.30.314. Aquaculture 5,310 0.2

AssessmentAssessment

1. How long have people been practicing aquaculture?1. How long have people been practicing aquaculture?A. 25 yearsA. 25 years B. 100 yearsB. 100 yearsC. Thousands of yearsC. Thousands of years D. Millions of yearsD. Millions of years

2. How many species of animals are cultured in aquaculture?2. How many species of animals are cultured in aquaculture?A. 2A. 2 B. Over 20B. Over 20B. 13B. 13 D. Less than 10D. Less than 10

3. List at least 4 different categories of aquaculture animals that are raised in Georgia.3. List at least 4 different categories of aquaculture animals that are raised in Georgia.4. Match the following animal to their correct category.4. Match the following animal to their correct category.

__A. Tilapia__A. Tilapia 1. Reptile1. Reptile__B. Shrimp__B. Shrimp 2. Fin Fish2. Fin Fish__C. Bluegill Sunfish __C. Bluegill Sunfish 3. Crustacean3. Crustacean__D. Alligator__D. Alligator 4. Amphibian4. Amphibian__E. Turtle__E. Turtle__F. Prawn__F. Prawn

AssesmentAssesment

5. Define Polyculture.5. Define Polyculture.6. Give one example of polyculture.6. Give one example of polyculture.7. Identify which of the following Georgia counties have the most aquaculture 7. Identify which of the following Georgia counties have the most aquaculture

producing facilities. producing facilities. A. OconeeA. Oconee B. ClenchB. ClenchC. SeminoleC. Seminole D. PutnamD. Putnam

8. Identify which of the following Georgia counties produce the most pounds per acre 8. Identify which of the following Georgia counties produce the most pounds per acre in the aquaculture industry. in the aquaculture industry.

A. TiftA. Tift B. HenryB. HenryC. Stephens C. Stephens D. DecaturD. Decatur

9. Where is Aquaculture in the ranking of Georgia’s commodities?9. Where is Aquaculture in the ranking of Georgia’s commodities?A. 2A. 2 B. 14B. 14C. 45 C. 45 D. 75D. 75

10. Which aquaculture animal that is currently cultured is the hardest to culture in 10. Which aquaculture animal that is currently cultured is the hardest to culture in Georgia? Georgia?

Assessment KeyAssessment Key1. C. Thousands of Years

2. B. Over 20

3. Fin Fish, Crustaceans, Mollusks, Reptiles and Amphibians

4. A. 2 - Fin Fish

B. 3 - Crustacean

C. 2 - Fin Fish

D. 1 - Reptile

E. 1 - Reptile

F. 3 - Crustacean

5. Polyculture - aquaculture integrated with other agricultural activities, where wastes produced by one activity may be inputs for another activity.

6. Any known system will suffice. Tilapia and Tomatoes, Channel catfish and Fathead minnow, Carp and Rice, etc.

7. C. Seminole

8. D. Decatur

9. B. 14

10. Lobster

ResourcesResources

http://www.nass.usda.gov/census/census02/topcommodities/topcom_GA.htm

http://www.cpes.peachnet.edu/aquaculture/

http://www.georgiastats.uga.edu/agsheet1.html

http://www.georgiastats.uga.edu/