Aquaculture in Open Systems

Abstract

Aquaculture systems are very diverse in their design and function. The three most basic categories of culture systems are open, semiclosed and closed systems. Open system culture generally refers to fish farming in natural water bodies such as oceans, bays, estuaries, coastal lagoons, lakes, or rivers. Semiclosed systems are those in which the culture water makes one pass through the system and is discharged. Systems of this nature are referred to as flow-through or once-through systems. The raceway falls into this category. Closed systems are those where the water is reconditioned and recirculated to the culture unit(s). A more recent term for this type system is the closed recirculating system. Various combinations of the latter two system types are in everyday use. The combinations are limited only by the imagination of the aquaculturist. Open system culture is the subject of this chapter. Other systems types are discussed in later chapters.