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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #161257
Title: EFFECT OF LOW LEVELS OF SALINITY ON PRODUCTION CHARACTERISTICS OF CHANNEL CATFISH ICTALURUS PUNCTATUS REARED IN MULTIPLE-CROP PONDS

Author
item O'NEAL, CLIFFORD - SOUTHERN IL UNIVERSITY
item Weirich, Charles

Submitted to: Journal of the World Aquaculture Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2004
Publication Date: 6/1/2004
Citation: O'Neal, C.C., Weirich, C.R. 2004. Effect of low levels of salinity on production characteristics of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus reared in multiple-crop ponds. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society. 35(2):284-290.

Interpretive Summary: The majority of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus in the southern US including Louisiana are produced in freshwater ponds. However, several producers in Lousiana's northern parishes have access to groundwater sources containing low levels of salinity ranging from 1 to 4 g/L and can be used for catfish culture. In addition, Louisiana possesses extensive coastal areas that may be suitable for pond-based aquaculture. Although previous research indicated that production of fry and fingerling catfish is enhanced at low salinities, no studies to date have been conducted to evaluate the effect of low salinity levels on market-size fish reared under commercial conditions. The present study was undertaken to address this topic over a two year production period. Catfish stocked into 15-0.08 ha ponds maintained under freshwater conditions (nominal salinity = 0 g/L) or adjusted to salinities of 1.5 g/L or 3 g/L by the addition of NaCl were harvested twice per year and restocked once in the fall. At termination of the study, selected production characteristics (mean weight, total yield, number of fish harvested, survival, and feed conversion ratio) were determined. Environmental salinity was not found to affect mean weight, number of fish harvested, survival, or feed conversion ratio of channel catfish. Results indicate that production of market-size channel catfish is unaffected at salinities < 3g/L.

Technical Abstract: A two-year experiment was conducted to determine the effects of low levels of salinity on production of market-size channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, reared from fingerlings under multiple-crop conditions. Catfish stocked into 15-0.08 ha ponds maintained under freshwater conditions (nominal salinity = 0 g/L) or adjusted to salinities of 1.5 g/L or 3 g/L by the addition of NaCl were harvested twice per year and restocked once in the fall. At termination of the study, selected production characteristics (mean weight, total yield, number of fish harvested, survival, and feed conversion ratio) were determined. Environmental salinity was not found to affect mean weight, number of fish harvested, survival, or feed conversion ratio of channel catfish. Results indicate that production of market-size channel catfish is unaffected at salinities < 3g/L.