1. Best Management Practices for integration of water and fisheries resources in lowland ecosystems Kevin Fitzsimmons, Ph.D. Professor, University of Arizona Visiting Fulbright Professor, Thailand President, World Aquaculture Society International Workshop on Integrated Water and Fisheries Resources Management in Developing Countries Sept. 20, 2004

2. Introduction F Vastly increasing demand on aquatic resources F Need to protect water resources from pollution and degradation F Require improvements in water use efficiencies F Polyculture and integrated farming systems will lead the way

3. Introduction F Polyculture and integrated systems in Asia are thousands of years old. F These highly efficient systems and the healthy diets they produce are a primary reason for the high populations in East and South Asia.

4. Introduction F Over 24 million hectares are irrigated in the United States, mostly in the West. F Irrigation water is well suited for aquaculture and aquaculture effluent is ideal for plant crops. F Multiple-use of water is an important aspect of sustainable aquaculture systems. F Fish effluents should be used as input to another crop.

5. Introduction F Water is already controlled. F Either pumped from groundwater or diverted from natural or man-made watercourses. F Reservoirs and canal structures are easily adapted as locations for fish culture. F Water is usually of high quality, often from the same source as drinking water. F Most water fit for drinking and/or agriculture, is fine for fish.

6. On farm storage ponds F Growing in ponds or cages in ponds. Cages in Washington farm pond Cages in reservoir in Arizona

7. Introduction Effluent management F US - EPA is in process of regulating all US aquaculture wastes F Field crop irrigation is accepted as a “Best Management Practice” by EPA and several states

8. Pond culture to crop irrigation

9. Sprinkler irrigation from Washington fish pond

10. Nitrogen cycle in aquatic systems

11. Productivity of water can be a measure of fisheries potential F Waters with high productivity are able to support high fish populations and growth

12. Large scale pond culture integrated to field crop irrigation

13. Nutrients provided from pond sludge pumped to field crop

14. Nutrients provided in first minute compared to 60 th minute

15. Review F Thank you for opportunity to present our research