UMASS EXTENSION FARM POND AQUACULTURE

Many farm ponds in Massachusetts can be used to grow trout in cage culture. Fish cages are simple to build, require limited maintenance and provide an introduction to the possibilities of fish farming. A workshop to learn about cage culture will be held on April 9 from 9 am to 12 pm in Room 119, Agricultural Engineering Building, UMass Amherst. The workshop will cover pond characteristics, permit regulations, fish species, cage construction and aquaculture maintenance. Training will be conducted by Keith Wilda, aquaculturist for UMass Extension and Australis Aquaculture. The workshop is free to anyone who pre-registers. Walk-in participants are welcome, but will be charged $10. Paul Catanzaro of Chesterfield MA wrote about his experiences with cage culture. His report can be found on the UMass Extension Aquaculture website at:http://www.umass.edu/aquaculture/projects/cage_culture.htm Individuals with appropriate ponds can join the UMass Extension Farm Pond project this summer. Growers will receive testing of their pond water, materials and instructions to build a trout cage, and 100 fingerling trout in return for a $100 fee and by agreeing to complete a survey at the end of the project. Farm ponds need to be a minimum of 8 feet deep, minimum of 5000 square feet of surface area (100’ x 50’), have vegetation in or around ponds edge, be spring or brook fed year round and meet water quality standards, determined by water testing performed by the project. A questionnaire is available upon request to help determine whether a farm pond is suitable for trout growth.

To pre-register, call Craig Hollingsworth at (413) 545-1055 or email chollingsworth@umext.umass.edu, and leave a mailing address and other contact information.