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Ashland NFWCO
 Midwest Region
 MTAN Logo Dedicated To The Tribal Aquaculture Program Image of fish jumping.
            December 2004-Volume 50
 http://www.fws.gov/midwest/ashland/mtanhome.html **Coordinator:
Frank G. Stone 
(715-682-6185) Ext.
          202
U.S. Fish and
          Wildlife Service
Email: [email protected]**
          
          **Edited
            By:
Elizabeth W. Greiff 
(715-349-2195) Ext. 5141
St. Croix Tribal Nat. Res. Depart.
Email:** **[email protected]**
 Topics
  Of Interest: *How to raise 0.4 walleyes/square foot *  The 
  Northern Wisconsin Aquaculture Demonstration Facility  How to raise 0.4 
    walleyes/square foot By:  Nelson Smith, Great 
  Lakes Inter-Tribal Council Intern; Edited by Thomas C.J. Doolittle,
Fish and 
  Wildlife Biologist, Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians Special thanks to Ed Leoso, Hatchery Foremen and the whole Bad 
  River Hatchery Crew  In the spring and summer of 2004, the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa 
      Indians Fish Hatchery released over 400,000 1.2 to 2 inch walleye fingerlings 
      into the Bad and Kakagon Rivers. The fingerlings were raised in two ponds with a 
      total area of 160,000 ft2. This article details  how this was 
      accomplished from spawning to release. Spawning: The walleye spawning season starts once the springtime morning water temperature 
    of the river exceeds 40F. On the Kakagon River, this occurred on April 12, 2004, 
    and the Bad River Fish Hatchery crew set 16 fyke nets in river segments where 
    walleye stage, run and spawn. All nets had a 15 ft. trap, a hoop opening of 48 
    in., and a 2.5 in. stretch mesh. Either a 50 or 100 lead was used, depending 
    on the location of the net. The nets remained set until April 23, 2004, during 
    which time the nets were checked daily. Captured adult walleye were separated by 
    sex and placed into aerated holding tanks for transport to the hatchery. Once at 
    the hatchery, the walleye were placed into 96"X 48"X 43" holding pens that were 
    set in the river. Each days catch was placed into its own holding pen. The 2004 
    fyke netting operation yielded 2,358 adult walleye consisting of 1,775 males and 
    583 females. Adult walleyes remained in the pens until the females bellies 
    softened and their eggs could be easily stripped. The eggs from one or two 
    females were stripped into a metal bowl holding about 1 inch of river water. One 
    crewmember would then strip milt from about 10 different males into the bowl 
    containing eggs while another gently stirred the eggs with a large 
    feather. This was done to mimic the sexual competition that occurs in the wild 
    and also to promote genetic diversity. After fertilization (completed in < 3 
    minutes), a bentonite clay mixture was added in order to prevent the eggs from 
    clumping. The clay and egg mixtures were then placed into hardening trays and 
    the eggs were allowed to harden in the river for several hours. After hardening, 
    the eggs were washed over a fine mesh and transferred into bell jars. In the 2004 season, the Bad River Fish Hatchery Crew stripped eggs and sperm 
      from April 18 to April 26 and yielded 147 quarts of eggs.  Each quart 
      contained about 110,000 eggs. Hatching: Fertilized 
    eggs were transferred into 4qt. bell jars. One and one-half quarts of eggs were 
    added to each jar. UV sterilized water was continuously flowed into the jars at 
    a flow rate sufficient to keep the eggs gently rolling at the bottoms of the 
    jars. Overspill from the jars leads into a trough, which leads to a holding tank. 
    Water temperatures in the jars were maintained at 48 to 50 F during the 
    incubation period, which lasts between 9 to16 days. In 2004, using UV sterilized 
    river water, we hatched around 72% of the eggs. After hatching, the fry swam out of the top of the bell jars and into the 
    trough, and from there into the holding tank. The water temperature in the 
    holding tank was maintained at 55 to 58 F. In the 2004 season the Bad River Fish 
    Hatchery produced about 12 million fry, of which 11 million were released into 
    the Bad and Kakagon Rivers without further rearing. The remaining 568,000 were 
    released into two rearing ponds near the tribal hatchery on May 8 and held for 
    40 days. Rearing: The Bad River Fish Hatchery operates two large rearing ponds. One pond is 238 X 
    338 ft. and the other is 180 X 338 ft. The hatchery crew began filling the ponds 
    with water from the Kakagon River on April 20, three days before the fyke nets 
    were pulled. The ponds filled in about six days and were let alone to settle for 
    about a week prior to fry placement. Water intakes were equipped with coarse 
    basket screens in a screened box and  outlet pipes (delivering the river) were equipped with a 200-micron screen to exclude predatory aquatic organisms 
    from entering the ponds and still allow pioneering zooplankton to enter. While the ponds were filling, the crew added a 10:1 ratio of alfalfa meal 
      and B&B Brewers Yeast to the ponds. A total of 1,800 lbs (1,200 lbs in pond 1. 
      800lbs pond 2.) of meal was added to both ponds while they were filling to allow 
      the additives to mix well into the ponds. One pond was equipped with AquaMats to 
      provide cover and an additional food source for the growing fry. This pond had 
      historic poor production and the AquaMats were viewed as one item that did 
      augment higher productivity in the pond. Beginning on April 24, and continuing 
    throughout the rearing period, both ponds were tested at least twice a week for 
    the following environmental conditions: Temp, DO, pH, Phos, and NO3. 
    The 2004 average values for these parameters were: Temp (61F), DO (7.55), pH 
    (7.42), Phos (0.036), NO3 (0.413). In addition to the continued placement of smaller volumes of meal and yeast, we 
      maintained a slow constant flow (10 g/m) of river water into both ponds. There were screened outlets on the culverts 
    to maintain a slow constant flow system. Subsequently, chemical parameters of 
    the river and the ponds were maintained synchronously and deviated very little 
    throughout the rearing season. We also noted that the seasonal phenology of the 
    zooplankton flora in the river were the same in the ponds following the natural 
    cycles needed for walleye fingerling growth. However, densities of zooplankton 
    flora in the ponds were much higher than noted in the river. This was likely 
    augmented by both the river inputs and fertilization. Maintaining at least a 7:1 
    ratio of NO3 to phosphates was important to controlling algae blooms. 
    Allowing water in from the river raised NO3 levels whenever the ratio 
    became too low. Subsequently, we have never had any algal problems in either 
    pond, and we have had excellent zooplankton production. On May 8, 2004, fry from the hatchery were transferred into aerated plastic 
    bags. The bags were placed into the rearing ponds and the fry were allowed to 
    acclimate themselves to the pond temperature before being released. Upon 
    release, an underwater viewer was used to verify that the released fry were 
    robust. The ponds were tested weekly for the presence of food organisms for the fish 
    including cladocerans, copepods, ostrcods, chronomids, rotifers, and insects. 
    Density was determined by recording three replicate counts of each zooplankton 
    order from three drops of water viewed through a 100x scope. Each sample was 
    randomly gathered at each pond using one tow from a plankton net. The rearing 
    ponds were routinely treated with a 10:1 ratio of alfalfa meal to yeast to 
    maintain a food source for the microorganisms that feed the fry. On cold days 
    the yeast facilitated a quicker breakdown of the meal, making more of the meal 
    available to the food source of the fry. Fertilization only occurred on clear 
    days and was spread along the shallow edges, creating a productive artificial 
    littoral zone in the ponds. In our opinion, fertilizer placement on littoral edges with yeast stimulated 
      quick breakdown of the alfalfa. This process was further assisted since the pond 
      liners are black, so even if temperatures were <40 F there was sufficient heat 
      due to sunlight and yeast activity. Subsequently, cooler weather did not affect 
      the productivity of our operation. Predation Control: Several steps were taken to minimize predation on the fry. An 8 ft. chain link 
    fence surrounds the perimeter of both ponds. The fence is equipped with a 3 ft. 
    aluminum flashing all the way around the fence. This design discouraged 
    predators such as salamanders, frogs, and turtles from entering the ponds. All 
    light sources within 150 yards of the ponds were removed, since the ponds are 
    built on the edge of a large coastal wetland. In the past light sources would 
    attract multitudes of aquatic predacious insects. Despite these control 
    measures, some herptiles were able to enter the ponds. To minimize their 
    effects, the ponds were walked every morning and anuran eggs were removed and, 
    if possible, the predators themselves were captured and removed, including 
    predacious invertebrates. Drawdown and Release: The drawdown requires constant monitoring and crew members were on hand around 
    the clock.  Fish behavior is observed daily throughout the rearing season 
    and the first sign of cannibalism in the ponds promotes an emergency draw down. 
    However, we believe between constant observations of fish behavior, not over 
    stocking, not keeping high densities of walleyes more than forty days and 
    monitoring plankton densities that cannibalism can always be avoided. Usually, 
    at the forty day mark is an appropriate time to drain the ponds and release the 
    fingerlings. The average length for the fish was 1.4 inches. The ponds were 
    drained, one at a time, into a catch basin. The catch basin was equipped with 
    several aerators, oxygen tanks, as well as overhanging pipes to deliver water to 
    increase DO levels should they fall below critical thresholds. DO levels should 
    be maintained between 4 and 12 ppm. A HACH DO and temperature meter was used to 
    measure DO and temperature in the catch basin at all times during the draw down 
    period. Note the addition of two 6" well casings to depress the pond 
              liner. 
This helps to channel fry directly to the outlet.
 As a pond drains through the catch basin, the fingerlings are concentrated into 
    it. Once there are an adequate number of fingerlings in the basin two crew 
    members seine the basin and a third crew member waits with a pickle bucket, 
    ready to receive the fish. Before the seining begins the bucket is filled about 
    1/3 full of water then weighed. After the fish are seined into the bucket it is 
    weighed again so the weight of the fish in the bucket can be deduced. Three 
    batches of 1,000 fingerlings were counted throughout the draw down and weighed 
    so that the number of fish per unit mass could be estimated. The fish were then 
    transferred into an aerated tank either on a boat for transport or on a truck 
    for transport and release to the Kakagon River and Bad River.  The Northern 
    Wisconsin Aquaculture Demonstration FacilityBy:    Gregory J. 
    Fischer, Facilities Director, 715-373-1047  The mission of the Northern Wisconsin Aquaculture Demonstration Facility is to 
      promote and advance the development of commercial aquaculture in Wisconsin and 
      throughout the Midwest. The Facility will: 1. Establish production-scale demonstration of modern aquaculture techniques. 2. Provide hands-on training for all parties interested in aquaculture including 
    fish farmers, as well as tribal, state, and federal natural resource entities. 3. Conduct applied research projects on promising technologies and techniques. 4. Provide educational outreach, and a reference center on all aspects of the 
    science and business of aquaculture. The staff of the Facility will work with representatives of the aquaculture 
    industry and the scientific community, as well as individuals from regulatory 
    and natural resource agencies to identify industry needs, conduct 
    training/research, and disseminate new technology information to the aquaculture 
    industry and the general public. We will stimulate the economic development of the industry by identifying and 
    testing equipment, species and rearing techniques that can be used for 
    profitable, sustainable and environmentally sensitive aquaculture. Examples of 
    our specific objectives are: Provide training and educational outreach to all interested parties 
    including fish farmers, tribal entities, state and federal hatcheries.
    Provide hands-on workshops on topics such as hatchery management, fish 
    health, recirculating aquaculture, genetic strain management, pond 
    management, harvesting and stocking protocols.
    Coordinate workshops with state agencies to assist farmers in the 
    development of business plans, capitol funding and the economic strategies 
    of fish farming.
    Conduct applied research on commercial scale aquaculture issues such as; 
    commercial grow out feasibility for various species, intensive recirculation 
    system evaluation, flow-thru system evaluation, pond management, weed 
    control in ponds, effluent management issues, fish health and biosecurity on 
    the farm, feed and nutrition testing.
    Work with the industry to develop new aquaculture species and techniques, 
    such as; aquaponics or hydroponics utilizing fish effluents, effluent 
    management, sustainable environmentally friendly aquaculture, baitfish 
    rearing, organic aquaculture or multi-species systems, to identify and 
    develop production based marketing/processing avenues, explore niche markets 
    and branding of products.
    Work with state, tribal and federal agencies and the industry to provide for 
    a cooperative interchange of aquaculture research and technology transfer.
    Develop a cooperative venue for aquaculture information and contacts that is 
    easily accessible to industry personnel.
    Create partnerships with the Department of Public Instruction and local 
    schools focused on aquaculture programs and training opportunities. Year I  (FY 05) In this first year, our efforts have been focused on construction of the 
    Hatchery Facility. We expect to open the hatchery facility in early spring 2005. 
    Installation and testing of equipment and systems will be an important initial 
    task necessary to make the hatchery functional. We will implement standard 
    hatchery operating procedures to maintain a production scale hatchery (e.g. 
    bio-security, monitoring of life processes, water quality, and effluent 
    management). We will be hiring and training aquaculture and maintenance staff 
    and planning educational outreach with local schools, colleges and universities. We will initiate the first phase of our USDA/ARS funded commercial yellow 
    perch rearing cooperative project. Supervision and assistance will be provided to the general contractor for 
    construction of the Administration/Classroom Building if funding is secured. Year II (2005-2006) In year two we expect to begin the following full-scale experiments and testing 
    regimes (dependant upon funding): Plant control and fertilization demonstration project in outdoor fish 
    rearing ponds utilizing various methods, types and application rates.
    Conduct USDA/ARS cooperative commercial yellow perch study and 
    demonstration.
    Explore feed training and profitability of various age class yellow perch.
    Test "new" feeds available for coldwater species such as rainbow and brook 
    trout with emphasis placed on health, growth, effluent and profitability.
    Test efficiency of peat for effluent management use in aquaculture. In addition, we will launch our full scale educational outreach program. We will 
    increase educational tours, host workshops on various aquaculture related topics 
    and make presentations at professional conferences. Year III-V (2007-2010) In this phase of full-scale operation we will continue the applied research 
    projects initiated in Year II. In addition, we will explore the feasibility of 
    select hydroponic systems and plants for both consumable and effluent management 
    and continue the USDA/ARS commercial yellow perch study. We expect also to begin 
    to secure extramural grant funding to help support the operation of the 
    Facility. With more stable funding, we will be able to conduct additional 
    projects suggested by the aquaculture industry and other partners. In this way 
    we will achieve our overall goal of strengthening the economic position of the 
    industry in Wisconsin and throughout the midwest. November, 2004 Update Phase II construction is going well and the facility is 
  looking impressive.  The contractors are right on schedule and plan to have 
  substantial completion by January 2005.  The tractor shed/wellhouse/headtank 
  building and the remote wellhouse #2 building are 90% completed.  The Hatchery 
  Barn is up and enclosed.  It will be totally closed in with windows and garage 
  doors by the end of November.  Contractors are working to have heat and 
  electric in the hatchery barn within the same time frame.  We are planning on 
  testing the high capacity well systems soon this fall and are working out the 
  effluent system permitting with EPA and the Red Cliff Tribe. Facility equipment is being ordered and should start 
  arriving any time.  Tanks, piping, and related fish rearing equipment and 
  systems are being designed and ordered for delivery in January and February of 
  2005.  Fish rearing systems will be assembled on site by facility personnel 
  during the winter with a spring activation date.  Any questions or comments 
  should be directed to Greg Fischer at 715-373-1047 or email [email protected].  Pictorial Tour of the Facility
(Click thumbnail image to view a larger size picture) Gregory J. Fischer, Facilities Director, University of 
                Wisconsin-Superior;  Aquaculture Demonstration Facility
              ..this 
          will give folks some idea on what we will be working on but it is not set 
          in stone...we are open to ideas from the tribes...please contact me with 
          any ideas for the facility.Hatchery Barn Complex which includes hatchery office, 
            wet lab, mechanical room, storage rooms, and fish rearing areas.Inside the main hatchery building showing 
            construction workers and equipment hard at it.Outdoor fish rearing ponds which include concrete 
            collecting funnel and drain system, freshwater and airline inlets, screen 
            and dam board slots for water management.  These ponds are capable of 
            rearing a variety of species including fish for food, rehabilitation, and 
            baitfish. Ponds were built in an area with an abundance of red clay which 
            provides for a watertight seal to prevent water from draining out.Effluent settling basins and water control structures 
            for holding and pretreating the facilities drain water before it is 
            released into a local stream to supplement the stream water supply.  The 
            ponds also can be used for rearing  fish due to the addition of screen 
            slots, dam board slots and appropriate valving in the water control 
            structures.Outdoor concrete fish collecting basin or kettle used 
            for draining outdoor fish ponds.  Through a series of screens and dam 
            boards, ponds can be slowly drained into the kettle which collects the 
            fish from the ponds like a spaghetti strainer.  Fish can then be harvested 
            from the kettle easily by several hatchery workers and loaded directly 
            into the waiting fish truck for shipment.  This structure greatly 
            increases the labor efficiency, health and safety issues for draining the 
            outdoor fish ponds for both hatchery workers and the fish.Outdoor concrete fish rearing raceways.Pump house and aeration tower
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          names mentioned in this publication are for informational purposes only.
          It does not imply endorsement by the MTAN or the U.S. Government.
 Last updated:
      February 3, 2009
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