Site Selection for Aquaculture

Abstract

Success or failure of any aquaculture venture largely depends on the right selection of the site for it. In choosing a site several factors other than the physical aspect of the site are to be considered. These factors along with the various types of culture sites and systems, are shown in a generalized form in Fig. 1.1 The factors to be considered cut through various disciplines and range from socio-economic aspects of aquaculture to all the physico-chemical and biological conditions of the environment; this consideration should be with reference to the specific culture system and species chosen (see “Species selection for aquaculture” in this manual series) as viewed from the objective of the venture. The objectives of aquaculture could be to produce whole-some nutritious food for local consumption. Through small scale rural farms or large vertically-integrated commercial systems. Alternately the objective could be for the production of high-cost fish or shrimps for exports and earning foreign exchange for the countries concerned. Those are elaborated elsewhere in this manual series. As it would be obvious, no venture can sustain unless it is profitable. Site selection is the process by which various factors indicated are considered to enable one to decide on the right site for a specific culture system or alternately, to decide on a culture system suiting the site available. Under the present subject of Site Selection, we shall be looking at the sites suited for aquaculture, different culture types, very briefly to begin with and then deal with the various technical and non-technical aspects of site selection in some detail.