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Unit 1.2 Aquaponics History

2. Aquaponics
History

3. History of Aquaponics Aztec Indians 1,000 AD
Constructed rafts from reeds and rushes
Floated in water
Covered with soil from lake bottom
Planted vegetable crops
Roots grew through soil and dangled into the water

4. MODERN TIMES
Fish farmers explore methods of raising fish that would allow for lowered reliance on land, water, and resources
pond-raised catfish are raised at a rate of to pounds of fish per gallon of pond water
Over the past 35 years fish farmers are moving away from traditional large pond culture to recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS)
¾ lb. fish per gallon

5. UNIVERSITY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS (UVI)
Agricultural Experiment Station at UVI in St. Croix under the direction of Dr. James Rakocy
Over 30 years of work in refining aquaponics systems
Developed:
Commercially viable raft system
Plant-to-fish ratios
Stocking ratios
Methods and techniques

6. Crop Diversification Center
Alberta, Canada under the direction of Dr. Nicolas Savidov
Hydroponic vs. Aquaponic crop trials
Aquaponic plants outperformed hydroponic plants
It is assumed that the organic nature and continuous replacement of nutrients is a vital factor

7. Other Institutions/organizations
Environmental Research Lab at the University of Arizona, Tucson
Oregon State University
Southern Illinois University
Auburn University
North Carolina State University
University of Washington
Texas A&M University
NASA
New Alchemy Institute
Rodale Institute
World Aquaculture Society
American Society of Engineers
Central Queensland University in Queensland, Australia
RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia

8. HIGHLIGHTS 1977 Germany-Naegal
Addition of hydroponic bed with tomatoes to remove nitrates from aquaculture effluents
1977 South Illinois University – William Lewis, et al.
Ebb and flow gravel system integrated with catfish
1981 Canada – MacKay and Vantoever
Salmon and tomato culture
Experiments did not produce usable results due to mortalities from aeration failure
1984 UVI-Watter and Busch
Aggregate sand hydroponic culture with tomatoes and tilapia
1993 North Carolina - McMurty
Importance of quality and quantity of fish feed
Increase in biofilter size leads to increased crop production

9. HIGHLIGHTS 1993 Marseilles, France – Quillere 1997 Seawright
Peak production of aquaponic systems is dependent on recirculation
1997 Seawright
Fish to plants ratios; results showed there is not single ratio of fish that can completely satisfy hydroponic crops
1980-present UVI - Dr. James Rakocy et al.
Commercially viable system developed on the Virgin Islands
2003-present Burlington County Research and Demonstration Greenhouse, New Jersey
Aquaponic greenhouse established; run by scientist from Rutgers University
2003-present Crop Diversification Center, Alberta, Canada
New fish and plant species
Cold climate systems
Aquaponics vs. hydroponics

10. REFERENCE
Nelson, R. L. Aquaponic Food Production Raising Fish and Plants for Food and Profit Nelson and Pade, Inc. Montello, WI. Pgs
With contributions from John S. Pade