PARTITIONED AQUACULTURE SYSTEMS, AN AUSTRALIAN PERSPECTIVE CULTURING MURRAY COD, SILVER PERCH AND JADE PERCH   

Partitioned Aquaculture System (PAS) concept developed at Clemson University provides a novel solution to managing fish culturing and bioremediation in separated zones within a pond.

An adapted version of the PAS was developed at Condabilla Fish Farm to determine the systems commercial potential for freshwater aquaculture in Australia notably the culturing of Murray Cod (Maccullochella peelii), Silver Perch (Bidyanus bidyanus) and Jade Perch (Scortum barcoo).

Current regulation in Queensland limits aquaculture to native species, limiting the full adoption of PAS as tilapia co-culture for control of algal biomass could not be employed. In situ wetlands using para grass (Brachiaria mutica) and aleman grass (Echinochloa polystachya) were incorporated to enhance bioremediation. Grazing of the wetlands by cattle was encouraged to maintain active growth of the grasses and removal of nutrients from the pond system.

Design modifications from the original PAS format included the slow moving paddlewheels being placed at the front of the culture raceways, aeration by diffused air supplied by rotary lobe blowers and incorporating a transverse raceway for harvesting and grading operations.

Maximum electricity consumption is 3.95kw/ha comprising 0.56kw/ha for water circulation and 3.39kw/ha for supplementary aeration compared to the recommended 7.45kw/ha under conventional Silver Perch pond production Rowland, S (1994).

Production performance is constrained by the culturing of Silver Perch and to smaller extent Jade Perch. Research by Foley, D.A, Rowland, S (2009) concluded that Silver Perch in densities above 60kg/m3 had reduced growth below AGR 1.2g/day compared to conventional pond AGR 2.2g/day Rowland (1995). Brune et al (1995) demonstrated Channel Catfish could be cultured at 120-165kg/m3 in the PAS.  Production rates of 8.2t/Ha have been obtained compared to industry average 4.47t/Ha Lobegeiger (2009).