How
much is natural in a New Species?Presented By Dr Trevor Anderson Click for details about this presenter
Developing a new species or increasing the efficiency of a newly cultured species can be difficult. Often there are times in the culture cycle when what seems like an insurmountable barrier appears and the enthusiasm for the new species starts to wane.
In order to get over such a problem, scientists or the farmers often look to the natural habitat, lifecycle and behaviours of the species for answers. Sometimes this works but sometimes it is simply a long, costly and ineffective diversion. Sometimes, what appears to be happening in the wild isn’t, and the investigation goes in the wrong direction. How can we tell what is useful information from the wild and what is not?
Considering examples using early Murray cod, sleepy cod and golden perch farming, I will discuss methods for meeting two fundamental rules for aquaculture.
If you can’t get your animal to take an artificial diet, you’re doing it wrong. Low density is ok for low profits, but if you want to make money out of aquaculture, the animals have to be grown at high density.