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

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

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

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

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).

Issue: Increased competition in catfish market Pounds 2001 2004 Growth Catfish 597,108,000 630,450,000 5.5% Tilapia 124,202,000 248,986,000 100% Salmon 10,515,000 40,767,000 288% (Frozen Pacific)

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

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

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

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) www.aispaweb.com

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Questions?