1. Using Alabama’s inland low salinity groundwater for the aquaculture of marine fish and crustaceans in west Alabama
J. Caleb Hairgrove, Luke A. Roy, Ronald P. Phelps,
D. Allen Davis
Department of Fisheries & Allied Aquacultures
Auburn University

2. Aquaculture
Aquaculture involves the managed reproduction and grow out of aquatic animals under controlled conditions
Currently, Aquaculture provides almost 40% of the world’s seafood

3. Inland Marine Aquaculture
Ponds & cages
On-shore, Inshore & Off-shore
Inland Marine aquaculture?
Land Costs and Availability
Disease Issues
Storm Risks

4. Black Belt
Historically described as a section of richly dark cotton-growing soil in Alabama
Commonly used to describe a band of rural economically depressed counties

5. Catfish Industry
The water surface area to be used for catfish production during July 1 through December 31, 2007, totaled
151 thousand acres, down 3 percent from a year ago.
The water surface area to be used for catfish production during July 1 through December 31, 2007, totaled 151 thousand acres, down 3 percent from a year ago (National Agricultural Statistics Services, July 26, 2007).

6. Issue: Increased competition in catfish market
Pounds Growth
Catfish 597,108, ,450, %
Tilapia 124,202, ,986, %
Salmon 10,515, ,767, %
(Frozen Pacific)

7. Resources Available Good soils & abundant water
Center of aquaculture production in Alabama
Low salinity ground water in some areas
Reason for history of successful catfish production
Acreage under water decreasing

8. Saline ground water in many areas of Black Belt
Wells in Green Co. & Sumter Co.
22% with salinities of > 1 part per thousand,
As high as 9.2 ppt
Wells in Lowndes Co.
5.7% with salinities of > 1 part per thousand
Current Use: Channel catfish culture and marine shrimp culture

9. Inland Shrimp Culture
The culture of marine shrimp in inland low salinity waters is occurring worldwide in countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, China, Ecuador, Mexico, the United States, and many others
Marine shrimp cannot live in “freshwater” they require minimal salt levels and specific ions

10. West Alabama Shrimp
West Alabama currently has half a dozen shrimp producers growing the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in low salinity waters with production equaling a farm gate value of 1 million dollars
Americans consume more than 640 millions pounds of shrimp annually
West Alabama farmers have formed the Alabama Inland Shrimp Producers Association (AISPA)

11. Initial Problems Farmers reported: Poor survival (<30%)
High mortality occurred if shrimp were stressed
High variation in production between ponds
High variation in ionic profiles amongst sources and amongst farms

12. Background
Chemical ion
concentration
part of
molecular
mmol/
ppm, mg/kg
salinity %
weight kg
Chloride Cl
19345
55.03
35.453
546
Sodium Na
10752
30.59
22.99
468
Sulfate SO4
2701
7.68
96.062
28.1
Magnesium Mg
1295
3.68
24.305
53.3
Calcium Ca
416
1.18
40.078
10.4
Potassium K
390
1.11
39.098
9.97
Bicarbonate HCO3
145
0.41
61.016
2.34
Bromide Br 66
0.19
79.904
0.83
Borate BO3 27
0.08
58.808
0.46
Strontium Sr 13
0.04
87.62
0.091
Fluoride F 1
0.003
18.998
0.068
Salinity of sea water (35 ppt) is made up by all the dissolved salts shown in the above table.

13. Mineral Profiles
Water chemistry of coastal seawater compared to saline groundwater from West Alabama. Percentages are obtained by comparing the concentration in the groundwater to that of seawater at the same salinity.

14. Potassium and Magnesium
Bioassays confirmed that in west Alabama, low salinity well waters have insufficient levels of potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg)
Experiments conducted at Auburn determined that supplementation of K and Mg directly to the water source increased growth, survival, and production of marine shrimp reared in low salinity waters
Dietary supplementation of K and Mg to shrimp feed had marginal benefits

15. Potassium and Magnesium
Muscle contraction
Nerve cell activation
Osmoregulation
ATPase activity
Magnesium
Ion transport across membranes
Muscular function

16. Low salinity water
Shrimp ponds are supplemented with fertilizers containing sources of potassium (muriate of potash ) and magnesium (K-mag) to raise levels of K and Mg and minimize osmotic stress
Low salinity water must contain a specific soup of ions with adequate ratios to ensure long-term survival and adequate growth of L. vannamei in low salinity waters

17. Example West AL Farm Water Profiles
Minerals
(mg L-1)
Farm 1
(low stress)
Farm 2
(high stress)
Seawater
Sodium
367.4
1187.5
10500
Potassium
8.3
7.5
380
Magnesium
4.6
13.1
1350
Calcium
21.8
56.2
400
Salinity (ppt)
1.4
3.0
34.5
Ratios
Na:K
44.3:1
158.3:1
28:1
Ca:K
2.6:1
7.5:1
1:0.95
Mg:Ca
0.21:1
0.23:1
3.4:1
Farm 1 is a shrimp farm that supplements K and Mg to its water. Farm 2 was not successful at raising shrimp

18. Culture of Marine Fish Red Drum Hybrid striped bass Southern Flounder
Florida pompano
Marine Bait Fish

19. Red Drum Fast Growing Species Aquaculture techniques well established
11 inches and one pound in its first year
17-22 inches and 3 1/2 pounds in two years
22-24 inches and 6-8 pounds in three years
Aquaculture techniques well established
$3.00 to $4.00 per pound
Market?

20. Hybrid Striped Bass Rapid growth in its first two years
Reaching a little under a pound in one year and over two pounds in two years
Aquaculture techniques well established
$2.50 to $3.00 per pound
Market?
Freshwater fish that performs better at low salinity

21. Flounder Well established commercial fisheries
14,347,384 lbs of summer flounder
$1.62/lb
Tolerant to very low salinity
Aquaculture techniques being established
Unique niche markets provide up to $12.00 a pound, sushimi, live product

22. Flounder Raceway
Currently performing production trials in West Alabama
Explain what they are seeing in the right hand picture

23. Pompano Highly prized food fish Limited commercial fisheries
402,133 lbs
Market size 1 lb±
$ 3.40/lb
Aquaculture potential
Specialty markets, upper level markets

24. Marine bait fish
In Louisiana $40,000,000 in retail sales of live bait (shrimp & fish) in 2001
Wholesale bait prices in Florida (per fish)
$0.24 to $1.00 for mullet
$0.19 for croaker
$0.66 for spot
$3.50 to $5.00 per Dozen for bull minnow

25. Marine Bait Fish
Bull minnow will reproduce under low salinity conditions (in un-supplemented water). Practical fish for production. Spot and other marine fish take more efforts. Bottom-line, marine bait is a live product, so no worries about foreign imports.

26. Approaches to Marine Fish Culture
Strategies employed by commercial shrimp farmers are currently being tested on marine finfish
The supplementation of K and Mg to waters and fish diets is currently being investigated as a means to increase growth and survival of marine finfish

27. Experimental Systems
Experimental systems have been set up at west Alabama shrimp farms to examine potential candidates for marine finfish production
Flow-through systems (600 L tanks) supplied from low salinity shrimp or catfish production ponds with supplemental aeration

28. Alabama Fish Farming Center
Growth and survival of different marine fish tested in farm waters and synthetic seawaters.

29. Pompano Growth Trials Replicates - 4/treatment Stocked 20 fish/ tank
2.5 ppt Synthetic Seawater
Fed to satiation twice daily for 45 days
Recirculating system consisted of glass aquaria, sump, biofilter, and particulate filter
Most work focuses on pompano, more sensitive to trace mineral deficiencies.

30. Supplementation of K and Mg to waters and fish diets
Change to % growth (final-initial/initial), studies underway

31. Metabolic Respiration
Greater respiration, more energy needed for osmoregulation, less available for growth

32. Management Challenges
Seasonal temperatures effecting growing season & survival
Interactions of soil & water, altering trace mineral profiles
Developing mechanisms to best alter trace mineral profiles
Develop management practices that will result in no discharge
Artesian Wells, magnitude of water resources, how much water and how long will it be available

33. Conclusion
Alabama has a large amount of low salinity well water that cannot be utilized for traditional agriculture
The identification of marine species that are suitable for culture in this water could potentially bring profits to west Alabama fish farmers

34. Department of Fisheries & Allied Aquacultures
Alabama Fish Farming Center
Dr. Bill Daniels
Bill Hemstreet
Travis Brown
Nelson Sansing

35. Questions?