What fish to breed in Central Russia? Fish farming as a business. Fish farming business plan How to grow fish in a pond
Fish is a valuable dietary product. It contains a lot of microelements necessary for normal human life. Doctors emphasize that each person, for the normal functioning of the body, must eat several tens of kilograms per year (over 30 kg) or approximately 80 g of fish every day.
True, there is still a clear shortage of fish products on the shelves of Russian stores. Our country's fishing fleet is small and outdated, and natural fish resources are gradually being depleted. Fish farming in Russia is just beginning, although the country has many natural reservoirs and plenty of opportunities to create artificial ones. In terms of water reserves, it is in second place after Latin American Brazil. A significant number of fresh water reservoirs provide opportunities for fish production.
There is only one question left - which one? How to organize your own business so that it brings tangible profit?
Fishing business
Any business is based on supply and demand. Fish farming as a business too. The demand in the domestic market is high. Nowadays, consumers demand a large volume of fish products not only from large enterprises, but also from private farms with their mini-farms. From a profitability perspective, fish production in a pond makes it possible to earn approximately 20% of net profit. Such commerce can be carried out in any region of the country, including central Russia.
At the same time, receiving fish allows you to spend a little time - about 3-5 hours a day are needed for care. And as a business, there is almost no risk of sudden changes in weather conditions or cold snaps. If you set up a business correctly, you can recoup the funds spent in a short period of time and achieve a sustainable income.
Selling fish
Of course, the production of fish products is not an end in itself. Selling fish is one of the essential factors of this business. The cost of fish products depends on cost, quality, type and demand. The most famous red fish is trout, its price is much higher than other fish, such as crucian carp, tench, etc., but the cost of such a product is significantly higher, and it is bought much less.
It’s no wonder that 70% of the live fish market is carp. Their cost is lower, but they are easier to sell. When you start your fishing business, be sure to look around the fish market and settle on the most popular fish.
You need to choose distribution channels, establish contacts with catering establishments (perhaps they will become regular customers), restaurants, cafes and supermarkets (many agree to cooperate with farmers if you have all the necessary permits). In the end, you can simply sell fish at the market.
Forms of fish development
The methods of breeding fish are quite diverse:
- Pond farming is the use of one basic reservoir to produce fish (this is enough for any species).
- Cage production of fish is especially effective for large specimens. With this form of cultivation, the producer uses a certain area of the reservoir, distributing the water sphere with cage lines.
- The pool method allows you to produce fish in artificial, relatively small reservoirs. They can organize everything for breeding freshwater fish species: predatory (pike, perch), herbivorous (bream, carp), etc. Some businessmen have mini-reservoirs in the form of small containers.
Artificial reservoirs
There are two main ways to breed fish in nature: in artificial (dug by man) and natural (created by the elements) reservoirs. The latter path is quite difficult to implement due to the cumbersome administrative barriers of the Russian bureaucracy. Renting or buying, for example, a lake is very difficult. Considerable time will be spent collecting papers and obtaining approvals from numerous authorities. And you can buy the right to lease a certain natural reservoir only after winning the announced competitive bidding.
An artificial reservoir is usually a pond. In Soviet times, collective farm ponds were up to 0.5 and even 1-3 square meters. km. What types of fish are suitable for breeding in artificial reservoirs? They usually grew crucian carp and carp; varietal species of fish were less common.
But ponds can also be small. Nowadays, small ponds with a water surface of 1-3 square meters are created on the territory of household plots. m. They do not require legal approvals. You can swim in them, use them for decorative purposes, or breed some fish “for the soul.” It can also be used for commercial purposes. After all, even such a reservoir allows you to generate good income. Fishing business can start on a small scale.
However, the pond owner must remember that there is a whole list of subtleties, such as water temperature, acidity level, volume of the reservoir, number of fish, etc. Ignoring the leading rules can lead to the death of fish. It is necessary to determine in advance the number of specimens and the species characteristics of the inhabitants that the entrepreneur is going to populate in the pond.
Pond requirements
What kind of fish to breed in central Russia depends on the characteristics of the pond. Have you decided to build on your own personal plot (preferably large)? Get ready for algae to grow in it - this is good free food for future residents. Peat and silt should not be left at the bottom of the pond, no matter what their quality. It is necessary to decide in advance that the reservoir is needed specifically for production and reproduction, and not just for keeping fish.
You can search for decorative parts of the pond according to your taste, but during construction it is necessary to determine some important factors when breeding fish: the most optimal volume of the pond is from 30 to 50 square meters. m, a smaller pond will be unprofitable, and a larger pond will be too expensive to construct and operate. It is necessary to dig a pond in a low-lying area with springs at the bottom; There must certainly be a shady place so that the fish can hide in it during the hot period.
It is better not to design a flat bottom for the pond, but to create areas with thresholds and long ledges. Any type of fish loves reservoirs with different soil characteristics and bottom depths.
Pond fish
To determine what kind of fish to breed in central Russia, you need to start with the type of reservoir you are choosing. An artificial reservoir has a unique microclimate that is not suitable for all types of fish. Standing water has less oxygen, it contains more microorganisms and various types of bacteria, small animals, including predators. The topography of the bottom, banks, and type of vegetation differ significantly from rivers. There is a lot of silt in them. Not all fish can live in an artificial reservoir. However, the types of fish for breeding in artificial reservoirs in our country are quite diverse.
Carp (carp)
Of the total number of commercial fish for obtaining marketable weight in artificial reservoirs, carp and crucian carp are among the most suitable. Carp (carp) is not particularly picky about living conditions; it feeds on small bottom organisms, algae, and fish food. Commercial carp grows within 3-5 years, standing out at a high speed.
A domesticated version of the carp is carp - a fish that quickly increases in size, has several species and is able to adapt to any conditions of the reservoir. Carp grows well in small, artificial and natural reservoirs warmed by the summer sun. Slightly alkaline water will be the most favorable for them. Carp can eat plant and animal foods. Carp can reproduce by the age of 4-5 years.
crucian carp
Crucian carp is also of great importance. It is also a fast-growing fish. Crucian carp is omnivorous and very profitable for crucian carp. Crucian carp is a well-known fish for production in the breeding tank. It chooses exclusively still water and feeds mainly on algae. Adults can weigh up to 5 kg. The fish is very hardy. But in winter, due to thick solid ice, it needs oxygen. It can be served using holes in the ice sheet.
Trout
Nowadays, trout farming is considered a promising business and allows you to earn quite good money. The popularity of trout is known; its price is consistently high (450 rubles/kg). The current situation is facilitated by the increased demand of Russians for this valuable variety of fish. In addition, fish in paid reservoirs is regularly gaining popularity. An increasing number of anglers prefer this type of fishing, since the likelihood of pulling a fish out of the water is high and the vivid feelings from this will remain for a long time.
To grow trout, breeding conditions must be properly organized. When the young trout reaches 1 year old, 500-1000 fish are placed in the pond.
A full-scale fish complex includes a hatchery, pools for fry, a pond for adult fish, feed rooms, refrigeration machines for fish products and other necessary technical buildings.
Large trout, which are fed for balyk production, are kept mainly in cages and ponds, occasionally in deep pools. Producing trout in tanks requires additional investment in proper equipment.
Most breeder fish reach the age of 3-7 years and weigh at least half a kilogram. Its activity during spawning depends on these two indicators of trout. If the breeding cycles are managed correctly, spawning can be done all year round.
To grow trout, the following conditions must be taken into account:
- the suitable water temperature for this fish is between 3-24 degrees;
- it is necessary to keep the water transparent and fairly clean, with a good oxygen content;
- In order to quickly increase weight, the fish must be provided with a food base, which must certainly include all the necessary substances, microelements, vitamins and mineral salts;
- You definitely need astaxanthin - a compound with a natural carotenoid, so that trout meat gets a bright red color.
If such conditions are maintained, the trout will reach a weight of 2 kg in about four years.
Sturgeon
Breeding sturgeon is a fairly profitable and promising business. One kilogram of sturgeon reaches 20 dollars, and the cost of black caviar reaches 1000 dollars per 1 kg. It is easy to calculate how much profit there will be from such a business and its payback period.
Under home breeding conditions, sturgeon breeds develop much faster. If at first a young sturgeon weighs only a few grams, then after a year some individuals will weigh 1 kg, and their body length will reach half a meter. After two years of fattening, the sturgeon grows to several kilograms in weight. Manufacturers begin commercial sales of individuals at an average age of approximately 1.5 years and weighing 2 kg.
On a large scale in Russia, development is taking place near the river. Volga, where river water is used in the fish breeding pool.
Number of fish
Effective fish breeding will be possible if certain rules are followed. To begin with, the most correct thing to do is to determine the type of container, the ratio of the depth of the reservoir to the selected type of fish. Then the problem of the number of fish fry for the pond is solved. Overpopulation of a reservoir has a negative impact on business. If there are obviously a lot of fish, food overconsumption begins, and the water deteriorates faster. When calculating the exact number of fish in the pool, you need to allocate at least 50 liters of water per 1 specimen 10-15 cm long. Pay attention to the size of the fish. There will be much fewer sturgeon fry than, for example, crucian fry.
The deep pool creates ideal conditions for fish in the winter, while maintaining a more even temperature in the summer. But there are also disadvantages: at depth, the water can remain cold for the active growth of microorganisms - food for fish. The absorption of atmospheric oxygen will be less than that of a small pool with an increased surface water surface. Because of this, the life processes of the fish deteriorate.
Other characteristics of the reservoir
Pools for breeding fish of different species differ in terms of water surface, depth, water supply level, soil type and other natural conditions. They differ from natural bodies of water in the regulation of the processes taking place: growing selected fish, artificial feed, fertilizer, and so on.
Important reasons that largely determine the effectiveness of the development of residents of artificial pools can be temperature and chemical reactions. Some fish are thermophilic, while others, as a rule, feel great at low temperatures. Constant changes in temperature and acidity levels can be dangerous for some fish species. Measurements of the acid reaction of water, temperature levels, and determination of the volume of oxygen should be carried out quite often, especially in winter. Changing the level of acidity to reduce it is done by liming, adjusting the operation of lime filters and mills.
We must also remember to determine the compatibility of individual fish species with each other; some of them may compete for food.
In a properly created pond, fish will thrive and grow quickly.
Nutrition
It has already been mentioned more than once about food for fish. This is one of the most important factors in the stable growth of the inhabitants of the reservoir. Nutrition will depend on what kind of fish is bred in central Russia.
It should be noted that there is no universal approach to the principle of proper fish feeding. It's like asking about the best way to fish. In addition, a lot depends on the cultivated species, because all fish have their own food preferences. There are requirements for conditions of detention and assigned tasks. If a businessman wants to increase the growth rate of fish, then it is worth introducing a larger weight of protein-rich food into the diet. Fish do not expect large amounts of food. For example, to increase weight by 1 kilogram, food must have a value of approximately 4,500 kcal.
It is necessary to monitor the amount of amino acids in food, since they increase appetite and directly affect the rate of weight gain. They also prevent the occurrence of a large number of diseases in fish, especially in fry. The diet must also certainly include different types of fats; a lot of fiber (the weight of its consumption depends on the type of fish produced, the most required specific gravity is 20%, for certain species this level may be higher); biologically active compounds (these can be various enzymes or premixes); cereals (you can sprinkle bran into the food, they will be an excellent source of carbohydrates); important vitamin B; food of meat origin (special flour, low-fat dairy foods. Such a balanced diet will enable the fish to grow at a faster rate, improve its health and increase the rate of reproduction.
Due to the introduction of retaliatory sanctions, the import of fish products to Russia over the past four years has decreased by 2 times, and the growth of domestic production was about 20%. Therefore, fish farming has become an attractive business option, which is actively developing and brings good income to the owners.
In world practice, aquaculture, or growing fish in artificial ponds and other reservoirs, provides about 50% of all consumed products. In Russia, this figure is almost 10 times lower, but the situation is quickly changing towards growth. It is stimulated by the State program and Law No. 148-FZ on fish farming adopted in 2013.
According to economic calculations, the cost of one ton of fish products is 2.6 times lower than cattle meat, and 1.5 times less than poultry. On average, the profitability of fish farming is about 15%. To create a profitable business, you need to do some work:
- identify local market demand for fish products;
- choose the type of fish and method of cultivation;
- draw up documents for activities and reservoirs;
- purchase equipment, fry, feed, medicines;
- organize work with wholesale suppliers.
Consumers prefer fish products from local farms. Imported fish is usually more expensive due to logistics, transport and trade markups. In addition, its quality leaves much to be desired. The weight of the product often increases due to ice, the shelf life is unknown, and the taste deteriorates from repeated freezing and thawing.
Where and what kind of fish do they buy more?
According to a study by VTsIOM conducted in September 2018, more than 80% of Russian residents regularly buy fish. Moreover, many consumers would do this more often if it were of higher quality. At the same time, 73% of older people (45–59 years old) prefer fresh fish, which they can cook themselves.
The survey revealed “fans” of fish, most of them in the Volga, North-Western and Siberian districts. “Rational” buyers prefer it because it is healthy and cheaper than meat. There are many of them in Siberia, and even in the European part, especially in villages and small towns. Finally, in the capital and St. Petersburg, where the most capricious consumer is, they choose expensive types of fish and place increased demands on its quality.
Regarding “noble” breeds, VTsIOM data show stable demand for frozen and chilled trout and salmon (57%). Smoked and salted products account for 23–28% of purchases. Fish market experts believe that the current structure of consumer demand is formed on the basis of supply. In other words, people buy what they find on the shelves. In regions of developed fish farming, local freshwater fish are in demand: carp, carp, pike perch.
Where to start growing fish
There are five types of aquaculture: pond, pasture, industrial, recreational and mariculture. The first three relate to commodity production. Mariculture in our country is poorly developed; it mainly involves the cultivation of various animals: shrimp, mussels, and seaweed. Recreational, or simply, the organization of paid fishing provides significant additional income from the fish farming business.
The first question for a novice entrepreneur is the choice of a reservoir for breeding; its arrangement from scratch greatly increases the level of investment in the business. The depth, characteristics of the water and the local climate determine what fish to breed in the pond and the technology for its cultivation. Everything is easier if there are role models in the immediate area. If this is the first time, it would be a good idea to order a fish farming and biological examination of the pool at the nearest research institute.
Methods of commercial fish farming
- Pasture breeding technology involves the release of fry, cultivation of fish in the natural conditions of coastal sea waters, rivers, and reservoirs, with subsequent removal of products. It is used little, since stocking is carried out according to an act with the participation of the state inspection (since last year it is not required for ponds), and a quota is set for the catch.
- Industrial aquaculture is gaining momentum. This is the breeding of fish in cages in a designated fish-farming area, or without its allocation - in pools (cages) using warm water from energy facilities and such equipment for cultivation as RAS (recirculated water supply installations).
- Of all the types of commercial fish production in our country, the most popular is breeding and growing fish in a pond. This technology requires the least investment, including the purchase of fish seeding material, a minimum amount of feed, and simpler registration. It accounts for about 70% of the volume of products we produce.
Industrial is the most expensive method of fish farming in terms of investment; noble species are grown on it: sturgeon, sterlet, trout. The cost of their production is twice as high, but the commodity value of the product is three times higher than the price of pond fish. Thus, the final decision is determined by demand and economic feasibility.
Industrial technologies
Two of them are most widespread in fish farming: fish farming in cages and using RAS. Simple cage technology is relatively inexpensive, but it all depends on the location and type of fish. It is widely used for growing trout, Chud whitefish, and salmon in lakes and marine areas of the northwestern regions of the country.
It is necessary to install cage lines, pontoon approaches, and constant control over the temperature regime and the hydrochemical composition of the water. In our country, equipment is produced at the Tobolsk and Kipetsk factories; it can also be purchased imported (Germany, Norway). Many entrepreneurs use their own technical developments. Cage technology is flexible - it is used in different forms in pond fish farming.
An example is the Fedorenko trout fishery, organized on Lake Onega in Karelia. Trout is raised in two fish farming areas in a 3-year cycle. Market weight of fish is from 2.5 to 5 kg. Product output in 2017 amounted to 1.5 thousand tons.
Industrial installations (RAS) are expensive. Thus, the cost of the trout breeding project in the Irkutsk region in the Velikiy Istok peasant farm was 200 million rubles, the planned capacity is up to 300 tons of fish per year. They include a large set of equipment: fish tanks, cleaning, disinfection, water filtration units, temperature and oxygen saturation regulators.
In central Russia, beluga, sturgeon, and sterlet are bred using RAS. Often, reservoirs are used for this - discharge channels, coolers of state district power plants and other hydraulic structures. Sometimes a complex method is used: trout is grown in winter, sturgeon species are grown in summer.
About the profitability of RAS:
The main disadvantages of industrial fish farming technologies are large initial investments and the need to attract qualified specialists. In addition, for this it is necessary to have the right to carry out activities within a specially designated water area.
How to get a fish hatchery
Suitable forms of doing business: , . Registration is carried out within 3 days.
Unlike ponds, in reservoirs, rivers, lakes and within the marine area, fish farming can only be done within the fish farming area. You can get it in two ways.
- Take part in auctions held by Rosrybolovstvo and its territorial bodies. Information about current tenders is available on the website of the Federal Agency (http://fish.gov.ru/).
- To create a fish breeding site in a new location, you will have to complete a lot of documents:
- highlight the coordinates of its boundaries;
- submit an application with the scheme to Rosrybolovstvo;
- a tender will be held for the formed site;
- a water use agreement is concluded with the winner;
- The coastal plot of land is leased.
Since most novice entrepreneurs start small, we will dwell in more detail on the features of growing fish in a pond. In this case, the choice is usually between carp and trout.
Classic pond technology
According to temperature conditions, 6 fish breeding zones are distinguished on the territory of Russia. The southernmost region is the Astrakhan region; on its territory, almost 150 days a year the water temperature is 15 ⁰C or more. The areas where it lasts 120 days a year belong to the 4th zone (Voronezh region). The Moscow region is located in zone 1–2.
In the south, the profitability of fish farming is high, in the north it is less. The reservoirs are frozen (they freeze in winter), which means that the main production occurs in the autumn. In the southern regions, fish reaches a weight of 0.5 kg in two years; in the north, a 3-year method of growing up to a marketable weight of 1.3–1.5 kg is usually practiced. A successful business requires compliance with several conditions:
- A fish pond must have permanent sources of water replenishment that are not contaminated by industrial and sewage waste (streams, springs, melted snow).
- There must be a gravity water supply or a mechanical water intake is required so that complete drainage of water and fishing can be carried out.
- The pool must be disease-free, and the cultivated species must correspond to the climatic zone.
- The pond requires access for transport, and there are equipped loading areas on the shore.
- We need a stable source of fish seeding material or our own nurseries and cages for viviparous species.
Excavation work may be required to strengthen the banks, avoid risks of insufficient groundwater and critical shallowing of the pond. An area of 1 hectare is considered optimal; reservoirs of 3–5 hectares are often used. The average size of the water surface in southern peasant farms is about 40 hectares. A significant expense item in such fish farming is periodic cleaning of the pool. So, for an area of 15 hectares, its cost is about 30 million rubles.
What kind of fish to breed in a pond
The main object of breeding in pond farms is carp and its closest “relatives”: grass carp, silver carp. Crucian carp, bream, and roach are also used for artificial breeding. The depth of the reservoir for cyprinids can be small - up to 2 m. These are herbivorous fish species that require almost no feeding. However, adding feed at the rate of 2.5-4 kg per 1 kg of growth allows you to increase the yield of marketable fish from 200 kg to 2 tons per hectare. The cost of fish feed is low, up to 10 rubles/kg. Farms that simultaneously engage in crop production use grain processing waste for feeding.
Trout requires a lot of trouble and expense. First of all, it needs to ensure a water temperature of 16–17 ⁰C, which is possible at a depth of at least 4 meters, or using cooling systems. To breed this fish, artificial ponds (flooded quarries) with an influx of cold spring water (or using artesian wells) are often used. The fish are kept in cages, which increases costs. For her, imported feed is purchased, the price of which reaches €1.5, but the consumption is less: up to 1 kg per 1 kg of weight gain. The fish reaches commercial weight in the third year.
In recent years, more expensive fish species have begun to be successfully grown in artificial ponds and natural fresh water bodies: whitefish, peled, muksun, as well as sturgeon (sturgeon and sterlet). In addition, the popularity of clariid catfish, which was released into the lakes of the southern Urals (Chelyabinsk region) and ponds of the Krasnodar Territory, is rapidly growing. In Kuban, when breeding catfish from 1 hectare of pond, 11 tons of products are obtained in 4 months.
How to rent a pond
To avoid confusion, let’s immediately define the terminology. According to the law, all water bodies in the Russian Federation belong to the state, with the exception of ponds and flooded quarries (artificial ponds). The latter can be owned if they are not flowing and are located inside a plot of land owned by a private owner. The second important point: in quarries and ponds, including water-retaining ones, fish breeding areas are not allocated (clause 3. Article 4 of Law No. 148-FZ, as amended in 2017).
In most cases, the owner of the lands and, accordingly, the reservoirs located on them is a state or municipal entity. This is where you need to go to get a pond for rent. The easiest and most reliable way is to enter into a lease agreement for the land plot where it is located.
To do this, the site must be mapped and assigned a cadastral number. First, you need to carry out “reconnaissance” with the land management committee; the land must have an agricultural purpose. Complicating points:
- if the site is not allocated, you will have to contact the administration with a request to allocate it;
- it is possible that you will have to carry out cadastral work at your own expense;
- the plot can be leased only with an auction (perhaps you will be the only participant).
This approach has many advantages. You can locate any utility rooms on the adjacent land, fence it off and get rid of poachers. There is nothing stopping you from using the pond for fish breeding; you do not need to obtain any permits for this. Including, you can freely build a camp for paid fishing on your own land.
You can grow fish in a pond by renting a pond without land. According to clause 4 of the Order of the Ministry of Agriculture dated 04/06/2015, a water use agreement is not required for this, and a permit is not required for stocking with fish. However, it will not be possible to prohibit free access to the pond; to use the water area for sport fishing purposes, you will still have to draw up a water use agreement (with a tender), and the adjacent plot of land for the construction of houses will have to be rented.
Artificial pond on your own land
Is it possible to build a new fish pond on your own land from scratch? Yes, if it is for agricultural purposes. In this case, the dig must be closed, and its boundaries cannot extend beyond the boundaries of the land plot. A building permit is not required, but land management work must be legalized. To do this, the project is approved by the land management and architecture committee. The dug pond is the property of the landowner.
Since 2017, changes have been made to the law on aquaculture, according to which ponds include water bodies created with the help of water-retaining structures. However, in practice this poses many problems. Strictly speaking, the river and stream remain federal property, despite the fact that the entrepreneur built a dam on his land for the purpose of fish breeding. For leased land, judicial practice develops in such a way that the created pond becomes the property of the lessor.
Is it profitable to engage in fish farming?
This business is an agricultural activity, so its advantage is the ability to choose a single agricultural taxation system. Tax is paid at the rate of 6% on income minus expenses, and in some regions it is even less. However, it must be taken into account that the first commercial products can be obtained in the third year. If the business is run successfully, it justifies the investment and provides a small profit. The payback period for projects is on average 3–4 years.
The table below shows an example of a calculation for growing carp fish in a pond with an area of 3 hectares (Astrakhan region, 4th fish breeding zone). Prices for planting material and wholesale selling price - according to the Fishretail portal. The remaining expenses of the entrepreneur depend on specific conditions. This is the most economical way to breed fish if you have a ready-made pond and no additional feeding. As we said above, its addition significantly increases the yield of finished products.
As for trout, the costs are much higher. With a 3-year rotation, marketable fish weighing more than 2 kg can only be obtained using high-quality planting material and good feed. Little of both are produced in Russia. Therefore, fry are often imported from Germany, Poland, Finland, or hatched in domestic nurseries, again from imported fertilized eggs.
The average yield depends on the growing technology:
- when breeding fish in ponds: 5–20 kg/m3;
- when using cage technology: 30–35 kg/m3;
- intensive pool method with RAS: 50–75 kg/m3.
The density of fish stocking depends on the breeding technology and the size of the planting material. In cage technology, fry weighing 4–5 g are used, the piece price is about 15 rubles. When growing trout in a pond, it is better to choose already grown fish; the cost of two-year-old fish weighing 100–150 kg is about 480 rubles. In this case, from a pond of 500 sq. m. with a stocking density of 150 specimens/m 3 in the third year, with good organization, you can get 25 tons of trout, and its wholesale price fluctuates around 170-180 rubles per kilogram. In total, revenue will be about 4.4 million rubles. Of course, the profit will be less due to the costs of purchasing material, fish food, water exchange, and sanitary measures.
Where to look for product sales channels
Marketing a perishable product is always a challenge. Fish is sold live, frozen, and processed into semi-finished products (salted, smoked). Non-standard products are sold to fur farms for the production of fishmeal. Sales routes depend on the volume and type of product.
- In small-scale production, temporary sales points are organized in the winter; in the fall, fish are delivered in glass tanks to residential areas.
- They are supplied to branded fisheries and other catering establishments, children's and school institutions.
- They organize their own fish processing workshops and enter into contracts with the processing plant.
- They are sold to wholesale companies that supply fish to large retail chains. Ordering transportation of small quantities yourself is too expensive.
You can find buyers for fish products using specialized portals on the Internet. For example, on the Fishretail site they post advertisements for the purchase and sale of live and frozen fish, and also offer packaging, storage and logistics of goods.
Risks
Like any agricultural production, growing fish in a pond, either natural or artificial, carries with it many risks. And if breeding carp does not require special knowledge, then the same cannot be said about trout. There are many technologies to explore to find the right one from a financial and organizational perspective.
And yet, despite certain risks that are inevitable in any business activity, aquaculture today is on the rise, and even in fashion. According to Rosrybolovstvo, out of 4,491 allocated fish breeding areas, 3,151 have already been leased. The total volume of marketable fish in the first half of 2017 increased by 12% compared to the same period last year.
The number of fish ponds is growing every year, and tourist fishing is developing especially quickly. In Moscow and the Moscow region alone there are more than 350 reservoirs where they offer fishing for a fee of 1,000 to 3,000 rubles per day. The voucher includes the cost of the fish caught, for example, 2 kg of sterlet, or 4 kg of trout, 8 kg of pike or carp. With the desire and the right approach, fish farming can bring good profits, both from commercial production and in the field of recreation.
Which business idea should you choose? Let's try to find the answer to this question. Many of us don’t think about how food gets to our dinner table. We are not interested in where or how they were grown or produced, the main thing is the end result. We want to always consume fresh and high-quality products. Live fish has always been and will be in great demand among the population.
It's no secret that many men like to sit with a fishing rod by the pond, relax, fish, and making this hobby their business is a dream for many, which can come true if you set a certain goal.
Fishing business from scratch
It is possible to make fish farming a business, but before making a final decision, you need to study all the intricacies and pitfalls of this business.
Russia is a great country in which fisheries are highly developed. To be honest, several decades ago our fish farming enterprises were among the best in the world. Unfortunately, many of them went bankrupt because they could not withstand the competition of foreign companies. Those that still continue to exist are unable to provide the country's population with the growing needs for live fish. Therefore, fish farming can be a successful solution to supplying your region with these products.
The ideas of growing fish in artificially created reservoirs are not new, but they do not lose their relevance even today.
There are several areas in modern fish farming:
Artificial fish pond
Selecting a suitable site
The area where you can make a fish pond can be located not only in small towns or outside them, but also in a big city on your own plot of land (if there is one). If it is not possible to dig a pond or pool, you can make a container from sheet iron.
A reservoir for breeding and growing fish must meet this goal. The depth of the pond must be at least 150 cm. Its bottom should be free of peat or silt. Vegetation must be present in the reservoir, but within reasonable limits.
The business will be economically profitable only if the reservoir is suitable in all respects not only for keeping fish, but also for growing it, collecting eggs and incubating young animals.
Construction of a fish pond
When creating a fish pond, you should not focus on its sophistication and decorative items. Do not forget that its main goal is to create comfortable conditions for keeping fish.
When constructing fish ponds, the following should be considered: rules and recommendations:
- Small ponds will require serious care, while large ones will cost you a lot. Based on this, it follows that the optimal sizes are in the range of 30 – 50 square meters. meters;
- one of the areas of the pond should be in the shade. In addition, it is worth knowing that in order for the pond not to flood during spring floods, it should not be located in low-lying areas;
- the bottom topography is complex, with shallow water alternating with deep-water areas, with rapids and ledges of various sizes;
- To breed different types of fish you will need a variety of soil.
For example, let’s take a farm that plans to breed carp. Expenditure part of the business plan:
Did the article help? Subscribe to our communities:
Related materials:
Fish processingFish tradingCrayfish farming
Business relevance
Today, fish products from large enterprises and small private farms are in demand in city markets. Breeding fish makes it possible to save precious time - you only need to spend 3-5 hours a day caring for them. By acquiring knowledge in the field of fish farming and organizing a reservoir, you can have a stable and high income.
Fish farming in artificial reservoirs as a business is practically not confirmed by the risk of bad weather conditions or seasonality. If you organize your business correctly, you can quickly recoup your investment and achieve a stable income.
Video on the topic:
Tips for beginning fish farmers
Directions of development
At the present stage, fish farming is developing in several directions:
- Pond farming is the use of a separate body of water to raise fish (suitable for a variety of species).
- Cage farming is important for large fish. The essence is to use part of a river, lake, reservoir, dividing the water space with cage lines.
- The pool method involves growing fish in artificial reservoirs. Suitable for breeding pike, salmon, bream, perch, carp, etc. Some entrepreneurs create mini-reservoirs, which are low barrels or bathtubs.
Video on the topic:
Pool growing method
Breeding sturgeon in the basement of a multi-storey building
What kind of fish is profitable to breed?
Many experts advise newcomers to the fishing business to start with carp and trout, as these species develop well and are in stable demand.
Carp quickly adapt to new conditions, are unpretentious to food, and resistant to various diseases. Despite the low cost, the income after selling the fish is quite high. For example, the profitability of the well-known enterprise OJSC Biserovsky Fish Factory is 9-10%.
A business plan for trout breeding is labor-intensive and complex, since this fish is demanding and capricious in terms of keeping conditions. To grow it, you cannot do without an experienced, highly qualified specialist. But such advantages as an accessible breeding system, high prices for products, excellent taste of the product, and low maintenance requirements (compared to other salmonids) attract many businessmen.
Many farms breed silver carp. The advantages of this fish are that they can exist peacefully with their “brothers” - grass carp and carp. Silver carp quickly gains weight and can reach up to a meter in height and 30 kilograms in weight.
Video on the topic:
Food for fry. (Excellent food for fry of different types of fish.)
Artificial fish breeding
The technology of growing fish in pools is a modern, progressive version of the intensive development of aquaculture. Pools for keeping fish have remained popular for many decades. Another way is to find the lowest place on your plot, dig a pit and build an artificial pond.
This option is profitable, but very labor-intensive.
The bottom of a pond at a dacha for fish farming must be level (pits can lead to waterlogging) and be insulated from groundwater.
The insulating material can be:
- clay;
- sand;
- asbestos;
- concrete;
- expanded clay.Large farms make several types of ponds:
- spawning for hatching larvae from eggs;
- juvenile;
- wintering;
- outgrowth;
- feeding
Video on the topic:
Artificial trout breeding
Closed water supply installations
Over the last decade, a new technology of closed water exchange - RAS - has appeared on the Russian market. There is no need to rent large areas of land. Modern fish farms consist of a hangar-type building containing several pools and water purification equipment. The modular system of containers allows you to keep fish at a high stocking density (from 40 to 400 kg of fish per 1 m³). The feeding process occurs automatically. The fish receives dry granulated food in specified proportions, which gives it the opportunity to gain weight and develop as quickly as possible. The water purification system sends it to all pools and removes contaminants, saturating them with oxygen. This makes it possible to use water for a long time with small losses - up to 10%.
The advantages of RAS are obvious:
- refusal to discharge contaminated wastewater;
- economical use of water resources;
- the ability to grow fish and vegetables in one system and create waste-free technology;
- ease of disposal of fish waste products;
- saving time in caring for fish;
- simple control of the dilution process - temperature, oxygen, light adjustment.
The only significant drawback of RAS is the high cost of the system.
Video on the topic:
Growing fish in RAS
Basic feeding rules
For rapid growth, it is important to carefully consider the purchase of fish seeding material. It is better to select fry from fish farms. Before purchasing feed, check the manufacturer’s certification, veterinary certificate and quality certificate.
Successful fish factories use commercial culture feeds containing protein. Despite the high cost, weight gain is doubled compared to conventional food.
When feeding, you need to observe moderation. The fish eats everything that is poured in, but the hydrochemical regime of the reservoir will be disrupted if the proportions are violated. This will lead to slower development. The rate and types of feeding depend on the type of fish, temperature and conditions of detention.
Video on the topic:
How to breed Artemia. (Artemia is used as fish food in aquaculture and aquarium farming.)
Business registration
The disadvantage of breeding fish at home for sale lies in administrative barriers. Obtaining permission to rent a reservoir or part of it from local authorities is not easy, and a large package of documents is required.
But the laws of the Russian Federation do not prohibit fish farming at a rate that is located on land that is private property. In other words, digging a pond yourself, installing a recirculation system, or pouring water into a quarry is much easier than working in a natural reservoir.
In this case, no permitting documentation is required. But stocking requires a veterinary certificate (epidemiological report and fishery invoices). It is also necessary to register an individual entrepreneur or LLC with the OKVED code 05.02 “Fish farming”.
Financial plan
It can be very profitable with proper planning and implementation of the idea. The cost of the project depends on its scale, region of development, choice of fish type, technology, etc.
If you open a mini-farm without hiring workers and saving on all aspects, the cost level will be distributed as follows:
1.purchase of fry – 300-500 rubles/kg. (when calculating, do not forget that 10% of them will not survive, and only 30-40% will be able to gain optimal weight);
2. equipment with an artificial pool - from 6 thousand rubles. per piece;
3.purchase of feed – from 15 thousand rubles. per ton;
4. purchase of equipment for fish farming - from 50 thousand rubles.
The information provided in this article is only a brief introduction to the essence of the business.
If you decide to move on to implementation, then you need to download a professional fisheries business plan with detailed calculations:
Starting investments range from 150 thousand rubles. To this figure add unforeseen costs, for example, for treatment. In general, fish farming is a profitable business, the main thing is to find sales channels. This can be a restaurant, cafe and other catering establishments, as well as sales at small or wholesale outlets.
Commercial offers
Save this article to your bookmarks. Will come in handy ;)
Follow updates on Facebook:
Follow VKontakte updates: → 07.02.2016
Attention!
The page publishes only reviews that are useful to others and indicate that the person had experience in this matter.
By approaching the formation of the pond correctly, studying the water parameters and preparing everything for the launch of the fry, the owner will be able to grow the fish to the optimal size. Careful care and cleaning of an artificial reservoir will allow you to increase the amount of fish for sale, and therefore increase the volume of profit received.
- Home fish farming from scratch
- Breeding fish at home as a business
- Pond equipment
At the moment, many experts in the field of fish farming consider the fishing business to be a rather promising area. Therefore, by creating conditions for its development, it is possible to solve the problem of providing the state with fish and help fish farms in such a difficult task as growing various fish species.
Previously, it was popular to breed fish in artificial reservoirs, but in this case, poachers prevented the growth and development of young and older individuals, which is why fish farmers began to engage in organized reproduction and cultivation of fish on mini farms and at home. But in order for fish breeding to be successful, a novice fish farmer needs to study the breeding instructions and adhere to all the prescribed rules. Without what will home fish farming not bring the desired results?
Home fish farming from scratch
The most important resource for growing any type of fish is water. The growth, development and health of young animals will depend on its quality.
Step one. Creation of an artificial reservoir.
Before you start creating a pond, you need to devote time to a complete analysis of the water, studying all the indicators and quality standards necessary for populating the reservoir with new residents.
For this purpose, it is best to contact Epidemiological Surveillance and ask specialists to conduct the necessary analyzes of the aquatic environment and give advice on improving it, if necessary. If the water quality does not meet standards, do not despair. It is enough to aerate and clean the pond and everything will return to normal.
Step two. Determining the quality of water resources.
The water in a fish pond must have the following characteristics:
- Optimal salt ratio;
- Regular and irregular temperature conditions;
- The total number of microorganisms living in it and PH;
- General transparency;
- The presence of minerals necessary for future fish;
- Color qualities;
- The ratio of gases dissolved in water;
If all these characteristics meet the stated standards, then it will be possible to grow fish without any problems.
Step three. Launching the fry.
Before you release the fry into the pond, you need to know what temperature conditions are suitable for the breed of fish you have chosen. There are fish that are more suited to cold water, and there are fish species that will only feel comfortable in warm water.
Cold-loving species include grass carp, carp, catfish, crucian carp, sterlet, silver carp, trout, peled and salmon. Heat-loving fish need to ensure the water temperature is not lower than twenty degrees, and for those who prefer cool waters, from ten to twenty degrees. Wintering in a reservoir will also be determined by the species of fish.
Step four. Stages of growing fish.
In order to properly build your mini fish farm, you need to know that when growing fish, the stages of breeding are taken into account. First, the fish spawn, then the fry appear, followed by the wintering stage, the next stage of growth, and experienced fish farmers consider the feeding stage to be the last step.
Taking them into account, it is possible to clearly distinguish between these periods and create the necessary scheme for the growth and development of young animals and grown individuals. For each of these stages, it is best to equip your own pond or use plastic pools.
In a pool or spawning pond, fish farmers hatch fry from the eggs. The hatched fry are transplanted into a pond where they will grow. Upon reaching a certain age, they are placed in a nursery pond, where they will gain weight. When the generation gets stronger and there is no longer any need to worry about its health, it is transferred to a feeding pond, and for wintering a special wintering pond with conditions appropriate for fish is used.
In order for fish to grow and develop well, the water in the reservoir must be clean and enriched with oxygen. Also, it should not contain hydrogen sulfide and methane. To avoid their occurrence, the pond must be created in an appropriate area, which can be determined using a geodetic map. Also, the reservoir must have appropriate vegetation that will saturate the water with substances beneficial to fish.
Step five. Feeding.
Not only water plays an important role in growing fish, but also the use of appropriate feed additives. In order to grow healthy fish, it is necessary to use feed mixtures appropriate for each breed. They consist of fats, fiber, legumes, grains, proteins, minerals and vitamins that fish need. The secret of success is simple: in order for the fish to grow well, fish farmers fertilize the reservoirs and mineralize them.
For each age of fish, it is necessary to use their own feed additives, just as to boost immunity, they use therapeutic-stress food to help the fish cope with the disease and gain immunity to it. That’s basically all that fish farmers who decide to grow fish at home need to know.
Breeding fish at home as a business
For growing fish, the most important thing is water; without it, it is simply impossible to breed any of the fish species. It is for this reason that before deciding to grow fish at home, it is necessary to build a suitable artificial reservoir for it.
For this purpose, you can rent a state reservoir, but it is better to abandon this idea. Because it will take you a lot of time to obtain various permits and approvals, and in addition to all this, your “fishing place” will also be threatened by poachers trying to catch as much fish as possible in your reservoir. For this reason, it is best to forget about renting a pond from government agencies. Moreover, the cost of a business based on state lease will be very expensive for you.
Another option is to create an artificial pond on your country or summer cottage. Creating an artificial reservoir will also not be cheap, but it will still require significantly less material and stress from you, and you will also be one hundred percent confident in the reliability of your business.
If you want to breed fish for which fresh water is suitable, then you can use a polycarbonate greenhouse with a plastic pool installed in it. It is also necessary to purchase compressor and filtering equipment, which will cost three thousand dollars. If you can create such equipment yourself, you will significantly reduce the cost of equipment for the pond. But before you start creating or purchasing it, you need to find out exactly what equipment and materials you will need.
Pond equipment
Water purification in a reservoir should be done using a gravity filter. Installing it is quite simple and it will not take much of your time. It costs about five thousand rubles. It is used not only for water purification, but also allows you to remove microorganisms that cause water blooms and the appearance of mud.
In order to saturate the water with oxygen, compressor equipment is used. Its cost can reach ten thousand rubles. In order to prevent the water in the reservoir from blooming, sterilizers with ultraviolet diodes are used. To pump water out of a reservoir, you need to purchase a hydraulic pump (about five thousand rubles). You can also make it by assembling it yourself from tubes. In this case, the reservoir will be filled with water from underground sources and springs. Feeders can be purchased at stores that sell fishing tackle. Also, do not forget about drainage equipment.
Costs and technology of fish farming
The benefits of fish farming are obvious. On the market, let’s take sturgeon, for example, a kilogram costs about two hundred rubles. By buying fry or breeding them yourself, you can get up to a ton of fish per year, which is about one and a half thousand kilograms, which means three hundred thousand rubles.
By spending one hundred and fifty thousand on your fishing business, you can work off the costs in a year and still make a profit. The main thing is to find sales points and then you don’t have to worry about profits.
Of course, only those people who understand all the risks and are ready to take them can engage in fish farming, because this type of business is quite competitive. And if you are not ready to fight and breed really high-quality and selected fish, it is better not to start it.
And now, finally, you have made a firm decision to create your own fishery. What documents will you need? Since you will be starting a business, you will need to register your business. This will also require additional costs. Also, to grow fish you will need a license, which will need to be issued. And when you receive the first “harvest”, you will still have to undergo product quality control and obtain special permission from the relevant structures.
What is the best fish to choose for breeding?
While it is easy to calculate the costs of creating an artificial reservoir, the costs of purchasing and growing fish are very difficult. It is for this reason that it is necessary to draw up a clear business plan.
The most unpretentious fish to eat and keep is carp. It is also affordable. When purchasing a ton of carp fry, you will need to spend about a thousand dollars. Moreover, this fish breed will not begin to reproduce immediately, but only after three years. In addition, during the cold season, carp grow twice as slow.
In industrial terms, all varieties of sturgeon are considered the most profitable fish species. An adult sturgeon weighs on average five hundred grams. A kilogram of sturgeon sold wholesale will cost approximately ten dollars. In your artificial pond, you can grow about a ton of such fish in six months. And this means that this business can really be called profitable.
Growing fish at home on a mini-farm: how to organize it correctly?
If you follow all the tips described above, then growing fish in your pond or pool is not a problem. This is exactly what farmer Mikhail Atamanov does, growing sterlet and trout on his farm in Yaroslavl. Over the course of a year, he grows and sells up to ten tons of fish and does not intend to stop there. According to him, such a business brings him not only tangible profit, but also pleasure.
Business related to the sale of food products has always been considered extremely profitable. Eco-friendly products produced at home are always especially valued. One of the options for such a business is fish farming.
Fish is a universal product that suits almost everyone, so the demand for it is very high. On store shelves, in addition to products from farm reservoirs, you can often find fish grown at home. This type of business is suitable for both residents of small settlements and entrepreneurs from large cities.
Fish farming requires preliminary preparation and obtaining the necessary knowledge. It is not enough to simply find a place to raise fish, buy fry for breeding and wait for them to gain weight.
For the business to be truly profitable, it is advisable at the very beginning to study the experience of colleagues, visit fish farms, and become familiar with the conditions for breeding fish of different species.
Valuable advice and experience from colleagues can greatly help at the initial stage.
In addition to knowledge, at the initial stage financial investments will be required to equip the reservoir, purchase the necessary equipment, cover operating and other costs.
What kind of fish is best to breed?
A special feature of fish farming is the relatively quick return on investment, since the fish grows quickly and gains weight, which means that the return on investment is not long in coming. Many species of fish are fast-growing, and they are the most popular.
The following types of fish are most often grown at home:
- carps;
- fish of the salmon family;
- sturgeon fish;
- catfish;
- tilapia, trout.
Carp breeding is widespread throughout the post-Soviet space. Carps are omnivores, but they also tend to consume aquatic insects, worms, mollusks and zooplankton. With the right diet, they grow quite quickly.
Catfish are famous for the fact that they easily get along in reservoirs with other species of fish. Tilapia is large in size and grows quickly.
Salmon and sturgeon feed primarily on other fish. Breeding them can be a risky business, given the high cost of feed and low consumer demand associated with the high cost of these types of fish.
What is required to organize a business
To organize a business related to fish farming, you will need:
- organized space for growing fish (artificial tank, pool or natural pond);
- cleaning equipment, pumps and other devices (for example, used for automated fish feeding);
- feed and feed additives;
- fry directly.
At the initial stage, there may be costs associated with the purchase or rental of land, premises, arrangement of reservoirs, purchase or rental of vehicles, water supply devices and oxygen sensors.
In addition, funds will be needed to pay for electricity, fuel and chemical components. Expenses may also include taxes, salaries of involved employees, mobile phone services and much more.
All these expenses must be taken into account in the business plan. In addition to costs, the document must contain approximate timeframes for achieving cost recovery and making a profit. Even before organizing all the work, it is necessary to clearly understand what the sales channels for grown fish or fish products will be.
Features of growing fish
Fish farming is a specific industry that requires knowledge in such topics as water quality control, disease control, proper nutrition, and others.
A prerequisite for fish farming is the availability of a constant source of quality water.
The water temperature can be adjusted depending on what kind of fish is bred in the reservoir.
It is important to arrange convenient banks of the reservoir so that there are no difficulties with feeding and catching fish. Artificial fish tanks should be of comfortable sizes. Most often, round plastic pools with a diameter of about two meters and a depth of more than a meter are used for fish breeding.
You can start by arranging one or two containers; if the business progresses successfully, their number can be increased.
Separate requirements apply to premises in which artificial reservoirs are located. As a rule, they maintain a constant temperature within 18-22 degrees. The room itself should also be comfortable - its area should be at least 30 square meters.
When breeding fish yourself, completing all the work takes no more than three to four hours a day. Workers should be hired when the number of pools increases and when production activities expand.
Sales and income
When organizing a business, it is important to think through all possible options for selling products. The sales market can be quite wide: fish can be sold in stores or markets. In addition, you can negotiate its sale with cafes, restaurants and enterprises specializing in conservation.
Cafes and restaurants are most often interested in fish weighing 500-600 grams. Such indicators can be achieved in good conditions in just six months. You can also sell caviar, which is always highly valued by customers. To do this, it is necessary to raise older fish stock (up to 4 years old).
When breeding fish in natural bodies of water (ponds), you can offer paid fishing to clients as additional income.
It must be remembered that the field of fish farming is not rare, and competition among entrepreneurs can be high. In order to attract buyers, it is necessary to set prices several percent lower than those of other sellers. This will allow you to acquire regular customers and establish the necessary business connections.
Considering that the cost of fish starts from 100-120 rubles per kilogram, you can recoup your investment in just one year, and sometimes in a shorter period. Business profitability can reach 50%.
If positive results are achieved, it will be possible to expand production and bring it to a new stage, and, accordingly, to a new level of income.
Fishing in our country is exactly the niche that makes sense to occupy, because This direction is not yet actively developing.
Meanwhile, more and more people prefer fish over the meat of birds and mammals. Partly because fish meat is dietary, partly because of moral considerations - the number of vegetarians in the world is increasing every year.
Our fish, compared to other countries, is quite expensive - this is due to the cold climate and the corresponding difficulties in breeding.
Someone does not want to accept live fish, someone pays for the goods only after sale - these nuances must be reflected in the resume when drawing up a business plan for growing fish.
How to organize a home fish farm?
It is worth noting that raising fish is not at all as simple as it seems at first glance. Some breeders admit that this is even more troublesome than raising pigs or poultry.
Unpretentious, at first glance, creatures, in fact, require constant care and attention, monitoring the water temperature, proper feeding and monitoring the ecosystem of the reservoir as a whole. It is necessary to regularly check the health status of individual fish because a viral disease can quickly spread throughout the entire pond.
First of all, it is preferable for this business to have established distribution points. Practice shows that problems with buyers in the fishing industry arise extremely often, especially when it comes to chain stores.
If you decide to seriously plunge into this field, you should be prepared to spend a lot of time and effort. Neglect of these small factors will lead to dire consequences.
It may make sense to hire help or run the business as a family.
Arrangement of the reservoir
- To create a fish farm, many people prefer rent a pond.
This is really beneficial because, in addition to direct breeding, it can be used as a paid space for fishing. But at home this is not always possible.
- As a less expensive alternative swimming pools are often used.
They are good because they are equipped with devices for regulating water temperature, oxygen levels and other indicators. And in general, it is much more convenient to observe fish in them: you can track emerging diseases and protect the “baby” from attacks by predators.
- Third option - creating your own small ponds in the garden.
This path is attractive because in such a reservoir it is easy to plant plants that will later serve as food for fish. In this case, there is no need to constantly take care of the feed yourself and calculate its quantity. The construction of a pond is also more economical - after all, the cost of pools is quite significant.
The issue of feeding is of fundamental importance, since overfeeding fish is harmful not only for their development - the remains of rotting food in a reservoir do not contribute to a favorable microclimate of the entire ecosystem.
To equip a pond on the site, it is necessary to dig a pit and provide a layer of bottom. To do this, alternate clay, asbestos, expanded clay and sand. You can also use concrete as a covering, and pour soil on top.
The only inconvenience of an artificial pond: It is advisable to plant plants at least three months before fish appear in it to form the desired ecosystem. Otherwise, if you start the inhabitants earlier, you will have to feed them yourself for some time. It is better to clear the pond of vegetation in winter.
The disadvantage of natural reservoirs is that the water there is often not warm enough, and when the fish are cold, they stop gaining weight, and food goes to waste. Swimming pools can solve this problem almost completely.
Choosing a direction
This depends on many factors: region, climatic conditions, interests of buyers, etc.
It’s up to you to decide which type of fish to choose for your business:
- Carp is considered one of the most profitable breeds for breeding - it is not too whimsical, and the meat of this fish has an extraordinary taste.
- Trout on the market is valued three times more, but it will require more effort from you: this fish is unusually fastidious in its care.
- Other species are also bred - tench, sturgeon, pike, etc.
The first two types of fish are mainly in demand. When choosing, you also need to remember - the larger the fish, the more in demand it is on the market, and the higher your future profit.
It is worth remembering, however, that it is not always possible to keep different fish in the same body of water: these creatures have their own hierarchy, and collisions are best avoided if possible.
Is it profitable to engage in this branch of livestock farming?
While ensuring normal growth, established sales and active sales, fish farming business can be very profitable.
But achieving such a result in the current conditions is not very easy for several reasons:
- Compared to the 90s, the demand for fish in Russia has dropped noticeably; many people cannot afford to buy it.
- Another a significant disadvantage is that the payback period is quite long.
Fish grow extremely slowly, and some species even grow throughout their entire lives. In order to reach its maximum weight, carp takes three years, trout – two and a half. Not every breeder is willing to wait that long, so some buy “young stock,” although this is much more expensive than buying fry, but here you have to choose. - The “capriciousness” of the fish also plays a role.
For example, carp can be fed very well using special ready-made mixtures, but the taste of the meat will leave much to be desired.
For fish to be tasty, it needs a lot of attention and a special diet.
Fish may lose its taste, including due to improper maintenance during transportation. In this case, the buyer has the right to return the entire batch, declaring it “defective”.
On the other hand, high fish fertility and excellent profitability with well-established channels can compensate for all the shortcomings.
Farm equipment
If you decide to breed fish in pools, for this you will need a room with an area of 50 sq.m.. It should be well heated, equipped with electricity and running water.
You can use containers of varying depths: many small pools (about 1 m deep) or several deep ones. But it should be borne in mind that the larger the volume of the “dwelling” for fish, the more electrical power you will need to operate the equipment.
To equip swimming pools you need the following:
- Pumps for pumping water;
- Filters that purify water from germs and contaminants;
- Oxygen generators;
- Thermometers and other instruments for monitoring temperature, water level, etc.;
- Incubator. If you have it, you will be able to purchase not fry, but caviar, and breed the offspring yourself, thanks to which you can save a lot.
At the very beginning of your activity, it is better to try to save on equipment - for example, use plastic containers, or even self-made ones, rather than inflatable pools.
In the future, after the project has paid off, you can think about more expensive equipment: special swimming pools, automatic feeding systems, etc.
According to experienced entrepreneurs, significantly increases business profitability using fish farming modules. In this case, the fry are raised in special containers equipped with tap systems for collecting and draining water, aeration, filtration and UV sterilization.
For information on the experience of using production fish hatchery modules to organize a sturgeon farming business, watch the video:
Sample financial plan
Assuming you set up a small home farm where you don't use outside labor and keep costs to a minimum, you might end up with the following business plan:
- Fry - 300-500 rubles per kg.
When deciding on the number of fry, keep in mind that approximately 10% will die and only 30% will be able to reach full weight. Accordingly, if conditions permit, it is better to purchase as much as possible. - Pool for growing fish - from 4 thousand rubles per piece;
- Equipment for swimming pools – from 50 thousand rubles;
- Compound feed for fish – from 10 thousand rubles per ton.
With maximum savings at the starting stage, you can meet 100 thousand rubles.
It is important to remember that trying to save on fry and, for example, catching them in a pond is not the best idea. There is a high risk that the fish will be sick.
In the future also It is worth considering possible unforeseen costs, for example, for treatment.
The average market value of a kilogram of fish is 200 rubles.
By purchasing fry for 15 thousand rubles, you can get a ton of meat per year from one cubic meter of water, thus reaching annual profit of 200 thousand rubles.
The business is profitable, but we should not forget about its long payback period. However, the wait is worth it if you subsequently regularly receive stable profits.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl+Enter.
2018-01-25 Igor Novitsky
By approaching the formation of the pond correctly, studying the water parameters and preparing everything for the launch of the fry, the owner will be able to grow the fish to the optimal size. Careful care and cleaning of an artificial reservoir will allow you to increase the amount of fish for sale, and therefore increase the volume of profit received.
At the moment, many experts in the field of fish farming consider the fishing business to be a rather promising area. Therefore, by creating conditions for its development, it is possible to solve the problem of providing the state with fish and help fish farms in such a difficult task as growing various fish species.
Previously, it was popular to breed fish in artificial reservoirs, but in this case, poachers prevented the growth and development of young and older individuals, which is why fish farmers began to engage in organized reproduction and cultivation of fish on mini farms and at home. But in order for fish breeding to be successful, a novice fish farmer needs to study the breeding instructions and adhere to all the prescribed rules. Without what will home fish farming not bring the desired results?
Home fish farming from scratch
The most important resource for growing any type of fish is water. The growth, development and health of young animals will depend on its quality.
Step one. Creation of an artificial reservoir.
Before you start creating a pond, you need to devote time to a complete analysis of the water, studying all the indicators and quality standards necessary for populating the reservoir with new residents.
For this purpose, it is best to contact Epidemiological Surveillance and ask specialists to conduct the necessary analyzes of the aquatic environment and give advice on improving it, if necessary. If the water quality does not meet standards, do not despair. It is enough to aerate and clean the pond and everything will return to normal.
Step two. Determining the quality of water resources.
The water in a fish pond must have the following characteristics:
- Optimal salt ratio;
- Regular and irregular temperature conditions;
- The total number of microorganisms living in it and PH;
- General transparency;
- The presence of minerals necessary for future fish;
- Color qualities;
- The ratio of gases dissolved in water;
If all these characteristics meet the stated standards, then it will be possible to grow fish without any problems.
Step three. Launching the fry.
Before you release the fry into the pond, you need to know what temperature conditions are suitable for the breed of fish you have chosen. There are fish that are more suited to cold water, and there are fish species that will only feel comfortable in warm water.
Cold-loving species include grass carp, carp, catfish, crucian carp, sterlet, silver carp, trout, peled, etc. Heat-loving fish need to ensure the water temperature is not lower than twenty degrees, and for those who prefer cool waters, from ten to twenty degrees. Wintering in a reservoir will also be determined by the species of fish.
Step four. Stages of growing fish.
In order to properly build your mini fish farm, you need to know that when growing fish, the stages of breeding are taken into account. First, the fish spawn, then the fry appear, followed by the wintering stage, the next stage of growth, and experienced fish farmers consider the feeding stage to be the last step.
Taking them into account, it is possible to clearly distinguish between these periods and create the necessary scheme for the growth and development of young animals and grown individuals. For each of these stages, it is best to equip your own pond or use plastic pools.
In a pool or spawning pond, fish farmers hatch fry from the eggs. The hatched fry are transplanted into a pond where they will grow. Upon reaching a certain age, they are placed in a nursery pond, where they will gain weight. When the generation gets stronger and there is no longer any need to worry about its health, it is transferred to a feeding pond, and for wintering a special wintering pond with conditions appropriate for fish is used.
In order for fish to grow and develop well, the water in the reservoir must be clean and enriched with oxygen. Also, it should not contain hydrogen sulfide and methane. To avoid their occurrence, the pond must be created in an appropriate area, which can be determined using a geodetic map. Also, the reservoir must have appropriate vegetation that will saturate the water with substances beneficial to fish.
Step five. Feeding.
Not only water plays an important role in growing fish, but also the use of appropriate feed additives. In order to grow healthy fish, it is necessary to use feed mixtures appropriate for each breed. They consist of fats, fiber, legumes, grains, proteins, minerals and vitamins that fish need. The secret of success is simple: in order for the fish to grow well, fish farmers fertilize the reservoirs and mineralize them.
For each age of fish, it is necessary to use their own feed additives, just as to boost immunity, they use therapeutic-stress food to help the fish cope with the disease and gain immunity to it. That’s basically all that fish farmers who decide to grow fish at home need to know.
Breeding fish at home as a business
For growing fish, the most important thing is water; without it, it is simply impossible to breed any of the fish species. It is for this reason that before deciding to grow fish at home, it is necessary to build a suitable artificial reservoir for it.
For this purpose, you can rent a state reservoir, but it is better to abandon this idea. Because it will take you a lot of time to obtain various permits and approvals, and in addition to all this, your “fishing place” will also be threatened by poachers trying to catch as much fish as possible in your reservoir. For this reason, it is best to forget about renting a pond from government agencies. Moreover, the cost of a business based on state lease will be very expensive for you.
Another option is to create an artificial pond on your country or summer cottage. Creating an artificial reservoir will also not be cheap, but it will still require significantly less material and stress from you, and you will also be one hundred percent confident in the reliability of your business.
If you want to breed fish for which fresh water is suitable, then you can use a polycarbonate greenhouse with a plastic pool installed in it. It is also necessary to purchase compressor and filtering equipment, which will cost three thousand dollars. If you can create such equipment yourself, you will significantly reduce the cost of equipment for the pond. But before you start creating or purchasing it, you need to find out exactly what equipment and materials you will need.
Pond equipment
Water purification in a reservoir should be done using a gravity filter. Installing it is quite simple and it will not take much of your time. It costs about five thousand rubles. It is used not only for water purification, but also allows you to remove microorganisms that cause water blooms and the appearance of mud.
In order to saturate the water with oxygen, compressor equipment is used. Its cost can reach ten thousand rubles. In order to prevent the water in the reservoir from blooming, sterilizers with ultraviolet diodes are used. To pump water out of a reservoir, you need to purchase a hydraulic pump (about five thousand rubles). You can also make it by assembling it yourself from tubes. In this case, the reservoir will be filled with water from underground sources and springs. Feeders can be purchased at stores that sell fishing tackle. Also, do not forget about drainage equipment.
Costs and technology of fish farming
The benefits of fish farming are obvious. On the market, let’s take sturgeon, for example, a kilogram costs about two hundred rubles. By buying fry or breeding them yourself, you can get up to a ton of fish per year, which is about one and a half thousand kilograms, which means three hundred thousand rubles.
By spending one hundred and fifty thousand on your fishing business, you can work off the costs in a year and still make a profit. The main thing is to find sales points and then you don’t have to worry about profits.
Of course, only those people who understand all the risks and are ready to take them can engage in fish farming, because this type of business is quite competitive. And if you are not ready to fight and breed really high-quality and selected fish, it is better not to start it.
And now, finally, you have made a firm decision to create your own fishery. What documents will you need? Since you will be starting a business, you will need to register your business. This will also require additional costs. Also, to grow fish you will need a license, which will need to be issued. And when you receive the first “harvest”, you will still have to undergo product quality control and obtain special permission from the relevant structures.
What is the best fish to choose for breeding?
While it is easy to calculate the costs of creating an artificial reservoir, the costs of purchasing and growing fish are very difficult. It is for this reason that it is necessary to draw up a clear business plan.
The most unpretentious fish to eat and keep is carp. It is also affordable. When purchasing a ton of carp fry, you will need to spend about a thousand dollars. Moreover, this fish breed will not begin to reproduce immediately, but only after three years. In addition, during the cold season, carp grow twice as slow.
In industrial terms, all varieties of sturgeon are considered the most profitable fish species. An adult sturgeon weighs on average five hundred grams. A kilogram of sturgeon sold wholesale will cost approximately ten dollars. In your artificial pond, you can grow about a ton of such fish in six months. And this means that this business can really be called profitable.
Growing fish at home on a mini-farm: how to organize it correctly?
If you follow all the tips described above, then growing fish in your pond or pool is not a problem. This is exactly what farmer Mikhail Atamanov does, growing sterlet and trout on his farm in Yaroslavl. Over the course of a year, he grows and sells up to ten tons of fish and does not intend to stop there. According to him, such a business brings him not only tangible profit, but also pleasure.