8 Fishery Arts

Fishery Arts

fishery is an entity engaged in raising and/or harvesting fish, which is determined by some authority to be a fishery. According to the FAO, a fishery is typically defined in terms of the "people involved, species or type of fish, area of water or seabed, method of fishing, class of boats, purpose of the activities or a combination of the foregoing features". The definition often includes a combination of fish and fishers in a region, the latter fishing for similar species with similar gear types.

A fishery may involve the capture of wild fish or raising fish through fish farming or aquaculture. Directly or indirectly, the livelihood of over 500 million people in developing countries depends on fisheries and aquaculture.

The term "fish"

In biology – the term fish is most strictly used to describe any animal with a backbone that has gills throughout life and has limbs, if any, in the shape of fins.

In fisheries – the term fish is used as a collective term, and includes mollusks, crustaceans and any aquatic animal which is harvested. The strict biological definition of a fish, above, is sometimes called a true fish. True fish are also referred to as finfish or fin fish to distinguish them from other aquatic life harvested in fisheries or aquaculture.

PLANT CARE

Live aquarium plants are a worthwhile addition to the fish tank. In a well planted tank, the fish have better colors, live a more natural life, and appear more comfortable than in an unplanted tank. Though they need more care than plastic replicas, live plants can be kept with few problems as long as there is plenty of light and no plant-eating or plant-destroying fish.

Water

Most aquarium plants can be kept in water with a hardness from 4-12 dH, and a pH from 6.5-7.2. For specific species, see the individual descriptions. The water should be kept as clean and clear as possible because free debris can settle on plant leaves or cloud the water, interfering with light intensity. Very few aquatic plant species can survive in brackish water.

Nutrients

Plants require macro- and micro nutrients to grow. Macro nutrients are substances that are required in relatively large amounts such as nitrates, phosphates, and sulfates. These nutrients usually occur naturally in the aquarium from tap water and fish. When these levels rise to excessive amounts, an "algae bloom" can result. Nitrate levels rise do to their production by fish. Thus these macro nutrients need not be added to the aquarium.

Nutrient - Function

• Carbon* - the basic block of carbohydrates, which plants use for energy
• Oxygen* - important in plant respiration at night
• Hydrogen - (in the form of water) is needed for nutrient transport, among other functions
• Nitrogen* - (usually in the form of ammonia or nitrate) necessary for protein synthesis
• Phosphorous* - promotes flower development
• Sulfur* - used in protein synthesis
• Iron - used in chloroplast formation (chloroplasts are the structure in which photosynthesis occurs.

There are instances when a pond should not be fertilized:

1. If the water is frequently muddy, turbid, or very darkly stained with humic acids so that a white object

cannot be seen at a depth of 18".

2. If the pond has a heavy growth of aquatic weeds. Those weeds will use the fertilizer intended to produce

the “bloom.” The weeds will grow well and the pond will remain clear.

3. If the retention time of the water in the pond is not at least 3 weeks, then the fertilizer will be flushed

out before it can do its job. Occasionally a bottom-draw design drainpipe can overcome this problem.

4. If fish in the pond receive their food primarily from artificial feeds, and weed control is not a problem, as

is the case in some ornamental or culture ponds.

Fishpond Preparation

water quality

Good water quality is essential to successful fish production in South Carolina ponds. There are many factors involved and the relationships are complex.

pH

The pH is a measure of the acidity of the water. Going from 7.0 (neutral) toward zero is more acidic, and from 7.0 to 14.0 is more alkaline. The ph of pond waters is greatly influenced by the presence of carbon

dioxide, and acidic substance that is removed from the water by plants during the day.

Fishes grow best between pH 6.5 to 9.0, which can be obtained in properly limed and fertilized ponds. At long-term values outside of this range, growth and reproduction will be reduced and death may even occur.

fishing the pond

Do not begin to fish a newly-stocked pond until June of the year after the bass were stocked (or after the bass have spawned for the first time). At this time, the bass should weigh from ° to 1 lb. and the bream

should be up to about 1/4 lb.

Layering the Pond

Most pond fishes will not stay in the lower layer for long, and certainly will spawn in it.
Overstocking can be a major cause of population imbalance and will probably cause

you to be dissatisfied with the fishing it produces.