Chinese Methods for Integrating Fish Culture with Crop and Livestock Farming

Introduction
Integrating fish, livestock, and crop production is a Chinese practice that has been refined over a period of some 2000 years, is garnering worldwide attention. Integrated fish farming is attractive to small-scale farmers under pressure to produce higher-value crops, as well as to communities seeking to augment food production and income.  Advantages of this system include: 

• Creation of a micro-ecosystem that recycles resources, reducing organic pollution - for example, livestock and poultry manure are good organic fertilizers for fish farming; combining fish farming with mulberry cultivation, where silkworms can be raised, allows silkworm pupae to be used as fish feed, and the worm feces and wastewater from silk processing to be used as pond fertilizers. Pond silt can be used as fertilizer for fodder crops, which can in turn be used to feed livestock, poultry, or fish;
  
• Increased food supply - by using manure instead of costly pelleted grain and animal protein fish feeds, the system increases the food available for human consumption. Integrated fish farming fully uses available water, land, and pond silt to increase food supply. For example, geese and ducks may be raised on the pond, pond dikes can be used for fruit tree, berry, and vegetable cultivation, or for raising pigs, while dike slopes are useful areas for growing fodder crops;
  
• Increased employment opportunities - owing to the diverse economic activities of an integrated farm;
  
• Reduced input costs - pelleted feeds for cultured fish are very expensive. The integrated fish farm produces its own feeds and fertilizers, thereby reducing costs.
  

While this practice has been very successful, the reasons for its success have not been systematically identified and vary from region to region. 
 
The Asia-Pacific Regional Research and Training Centre for Integrated Fish Farming in Wuxi, China, has been involved with aquaculture research and extension work for more than a decade. The Centre offers annual training courses for students from Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, and Latin America. Its Freshwater Fisheries Research Centre (FFRC) is devoted to the collection, review, and scientific understanding of the traditional Chinese practice of integrated fish farming, and technology transfer to other parts of the world. It has produced a manual entitled Integrated Fish Farming in China, which explains the Chinese system and guides adaptation of the practice to local conditions. 
 
  Various Chinese integrated fish farming models have evolved according to geography and climate, local agricultural characteristics, socioeconomic conditions, and traditional practices. Most fish farms have complex integrated farming and management systems. For instance, one type of integrated fish farm may raise Huzhou sheep which provide manure for growing mulberry on which silkworms live; silkworm dregs are in turn used to feed fish, while the autumn leaves of the mulberry tree are fed to sheep in winter. Complementary species of fish grow in the same pond, such as grass carp, which eat green fodder — their excreta then fertilize the water or are eaten by silver carp. 
 
The Wuxi Centre's research has identified essential elements that facilitate transferring the technology to other regions, including: 

• Key factors influencing economic returns from the fish farms;
  
• The interrelation of economic, energy, and material factors in each system; 
  
• Optimal species, stocking ratio, and input of feed and fertilizer to meet different local conditions.
  

Integrated Fish Farming in China reflects the understanding and experience gained by workers in the Centre, as a result of studies in China and technical co-operation with people from other countries. Because the Chinese system of carp culture provides a base from which integration with other crops, plants, and livestock has evolved, a large portion of the manual deals with the biology of the predominate. Someone who is new to the Chinese practice of integrated farming must first understand the basic biology and reproductive cycle of Chinese carps. The book also introduces Chinese and other models of integrated fish farming. Specific topics covered include management, raising livestock, plant cultivation, and the design and construction of an integrated fish farm.  Impact

• Successful international training and technology transfer program - The Freshwater Fisheries Research Centre (FFRC) has been conducting an annual international training course on integrated fish farming since 1981. Some 600 technical and managerial fisheries personnel from more than 50 countries have completed the course. Currently, the Centre is offering an annual three-month training course on integrated fish farming for aquaculturists from abroad. The cost is US $5,000 per person (excluding international travel costs). Based on follow-up surveys conducted by the Centre, many graduates of the training program have successfully adopted and adapted Chinese integrated fish farming systems and techniques to their own countries. This training and technology transfer has also helped promote aquaculture development in those countries. For example: 
  

• a graduate from the Aquaculture Research and Training Centre in Nepal successfully transferred fish-fruit tree and fish-vegetable integrated farming techniques to Nepalese fish farmers; 
  
• a group of trainees from the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture in India adopted fish-livestock integrated farming techniques, focusing on chickens and cows; 
  
• a Bangladeshi trainee was the first in his country to successfully induce breeding of black carp using techniques learned at FFRC; 
  
• induced breeding of Chinese carps — an important technique that solves the problem of having a sufficient local supply of fish fry for culture and open-water stocking — has been successfully transferred to almost all Asian countries through FFRC training. 
  

• Technology transfer within China - FFRC has drawn on its research and extension project experience to transfer integrated fish farming methods to poorer areas of China, effectively improving people's standards of living. The Centre has found that local economic conditions determine the model established. For example, strictly traditional methods of fish farming are no longer popular in many rural areas where rapid industrial development has increased the cost of labour. In such areas, integrated management of fish farming, industry and trade is favoured.
  

• In the rural area around Kaifeng (Henan province) FFRC researchers successfully completed a project to convert swampy, low-yielding crop land into fish ponds. Excavated soil was used to build wide, elevated pond dikes. With fish now cultured in the ponds, a variety of crops, vegetables, and grasses are being cultivated on the dike fields. The result is that both the nutritional and income levels of participating residents have increased. 
  
• Another FFRC project was designed to train and provide technical assistance in integrated fish farming to poor women in Yixing (Jiangsu province). Researchers found that the project not only increased family income levels, but also helped to improve the social position of poor women. Similar projects are currently being conducted in Anhui province. 
  

• Impact on economic development - Dr. Weimin noted that integrated fish farming is an excellent stimulus to promote rural economic development in less developed areas, especially where fish farming was previously unknown. In more highly developed areas, traditional systems of fish-crop-livestock integrated farming are gradually being replaced by fish culture activity that has value added (e.g. retail sales, restaurants, and tourism). 
  

• Development of FFRC as a leading research centre - The  Freshwater Fisheries Research Centre, with IDRC support, has developed into the leading freshwater fisheries research institution in China, while also playing a lead role throughout the Asian region. Research and extension activities encompass all aspects of freshwater fisheries, especially environmental conservation, inland open-water fisheries development and management, bio-engineering, fish pathology, and nutrition. 
  

• Further research - the Centre's research continues on the following themes: 
  
  
  • Analysis of socioeconomic, biological, financial, and management inputs on fish farms;
    
  • How to implement research findings to increase income on rural farms;
    
  • Development of an interdisciplinary method for analyzing integrated fish farming in China and elsewhere in the world.
    
  
  

Potential users
Aquaculture farmers, co-ops, extension workers, researchers, and scientists interested in maximizing available resources and land on fish farms.  Contact
Miao Weimin 
Freshwater Fisheries Research Centre (FFRC) 
Asia-Pacific Regional Research and Training Centre for Integrated Fish Farming 
Qitang, Wuxi 
Jiangsu Province, CHINA 
Tel: (86) 510-5801424 
Fax: (86) 510-5803304 
E-mail: cc.ffrc@public1.wx.js.cn 
Web site: http://www.agri-aqua.ait.ac.th/naca/center/china/rlcc.htm  Resources
Publications:  Collection of papers on integrated fish farming. 1993.  Freshwater Fisheries Research Centre. 
Integrated fish farming in China.1989.  NACA Technical Manual 7, Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand. (Available from FFRC above, or from the IDRC library.) 
MacKay, Kenneth T., ed. June 1995. Rice–fish culture in China.  IDRC. Paperback (6.75 x 9.75 inches). ISBN 0-88936-776-0. $35.00. Available online: http://archive.idrc.ca/books/776.html; E-mail: order@idrc.ca 
International organizations: 
Department of Fisheries and Oceans 
200 Kent Street 
Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA  K1A 0E6 
Tel: (613) 993-0999 
Fax: (613) 996-9055 
E-mail: info@www.ncr.dfo.ca 
Web site: http://www.ncr.dfo.ca/ 
Freshwater Institute 
501 University Crescent 
Winnipeg, Manitoba, CANADA   R3T 2N6 
Tel: (204) 983-5000 
Network of Aquaculture Centers in Asia-Pacific (NACA) 
P.O. Box 1040 
Kasetsart Post Office 
Bangkok 10903, THAILAND 
Tel: (66-2) 561- 1728 to 9 
Fax: (66-2) 561-1727 
Web site: http://www.agri-aqua.ait.ac.th/naca/ 
SIFR (Strategy for International Fisheries Research) SECRETARIAT 
150 Kentt Street 
Box 8500 
Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA   K1G 3H9 
Tel: (613) 236-6163, ext. 2540 
Fax: (613) 567-4349 
E-mail: Bdavy@idrc.ca  
Web site: http://www.idrc.ca/sifr/index.html

Organic Production in Aquaculture

Defining “organic aquaculture” is very much a work-in-progress and, for many reasons, an endeavor marked by controversy. Members of both the organic and the aquaculture communities disagree on how, or even if, aquatic animal and plant production systems can qualify as “organic” as the term is commonly used. Any potential definition must be a multi-faceted one. “Organic” in the context of food production connotes standards and certification – a verifiable claim for the production process and production practices – as well as more elusive characteristics such as consumer expectation for food quality and safety and general environmental, social, and economic benefits for farmers and for society. The variety of species produced in aquacultural systems and vast differences in cultural requirements for finfish, shellfish, mollusks, and aquatic plants add to the complexity of defining this sector. Some species and some production systems may prove quite difficult to adapt to a traditional “organic” system. [See the Conventional Aquaculture section in this document for detail about existing production systems.]
Traditional organic farming systems “rely on ecologically based practices, such as cultural and biological pest management, and virtually exclude the use of synthetic chemicals in crop production and prohibit the use of antibiotics and hormones in livestock production.” [Briefing Room: Organic Farming and Marketing, 2004] Sustainability, environmental stewardship, and holistic, integrated approaches to production are hallmarks of organic systems. Standards for organic cropping and terrestrial livestock husbandry practices have existed for decades. In recent years, standards have been incorporated into state and national organic rule making and certification requirements. [See Organic Agriculture background section in this document for detail about agricultural practices and standards.]
Interpreting practices and standards developed for terrestrial species into practices and standards relevant to aquatic species, both animal and plant, remains a major challenge for organic aquaculture. How can aquatic operations comply with the requirements for an organic system plan, for obtaining acceptable stock, for implementing health care monitoring and management, for maintaining prescribed “living conditions,” for development and acceptance of allowed and prohibited substances lists, for organic feed requirements, for controlled post-harvest processing, for nutrient management, and for required animal identification and record-keeping?
Many specialists agree that the most immediate deterrent to production of organic animals is the issue of providing organically produced feed, especially for species requiring significant proportions of animal-based protein. Where will it come from? Can wild-caught fish and fish by-products be utilized as organic feed stock for farmed species? Should emphasis be placed on farming lowtrophic species?
Other points of discussion:

• Criteria for evaluating the suitability of a production site for an organic aquaculture operation; specifically, how standards will be developed for the site of production to address nutrient concentration/effluent management and water testing parameters, chemical drift, the emergence and transfer of disease, the escape of captive species to the wild, biodiversity, and detrimental impacts on indigenous species;
  
• Guidelines to control practices used in aquaculture operations that are consistent with organic principles, especially with regard to chemicals administered to control diseases and parasites, and to accommodating “natural behavior” and animal welfare in closed systems;
  
• Induction of triploidy in fish species;
  
• Origin of livestock requirement for aquaculture operations that obtain stock or fry from wild populations;
  
• Status of “wild caught” fish and related by-products;
  
• Conversion requirements for producers wishing to change over to an organic system;
  
• Recordkeeping/traceability elements, and inspection practices pertinent to aquatic species; and
  
• Harmonization of organic aquaculture standards between countries.
  

Today, organic aquaculture production takes place primarily in Europe, where certified organic salmon, carp, and trout are grown and sold. Certified organic mussels, Tiger shrimp, white shrimp, and tilapia also are cultured in such diverse places as Vietnam, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, New Zealand, and Israel. Standards and certification procedures are set by just a few certification agencies. Universal acceptance of any standards does not currently exist. [See the International Organic Aquaculture Standards section in this document for detail.] To risk investment in this sector, producers require formally recognized standards in order to communicate the advantages of organic aquaculture products to consumers. The key to the continued growth and development of organic aquaculture lies in resolving a number of issues that currently stand in the way of instituting internationally accepted certification standards.

Selected Readings

Further Comments of the Organic Trade Association (OTA) for the USDA-AMS-NOP Hearings on Organic Production and Handling of Aquatic Animals to be Labeled as Organic, by Tom Hutcheson. Federal Register Docket Number TM-00-03. May 3, 2000.
Full-text online: http://www.ota.com/pp/otaposition/frc/fish.html (accessed Dec. 15, 2004).
“Growing Organic Seafood Sales,” by Dan McGovern. IntraFish2, no. 5 (May 2004): 14, 16-19.
Full-text online: http://www.intrafish.com/pdf/download/2c95643bf128d4597b2176f78b462154/2004/5/14.pdf (accessed Dec. 15, 2004).
OMRI’s Comments on Organic Standards for Aquatic Animals submitted to National Organic Program, by Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI). Federal Register Docket Number TM00-03. May 17, 2000.
Full-text online: http://www.omri.org/fishy.pdf (accessed Dec. 15, 2004).
“Organic Aquaculture: Current Standards and Future Prospects: Chapter 6,” by Albert G. J. Tacon and Deborah J. Brister. Organic Agriculture, Environment and Food Security, edited by Nadia El-Hage Scialbba and Caroline Hattam. Environment and Natural Resources Series, 4. Rome, Italy: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, 2002. [NAL Call Number: QED.E68 no. 4]
Full-text online: http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/005/Y4137E/y4137e06.htm (accessed Dec. 15, 2004).

Definitions of Organic on Google

• relating or belonging to the class of chemical compounds having a carbon basis; "hydrocarbons are organic compounds"
• being or relating to or derived from or having properties characteristic of living organisms; "organic life"; "organic growth"; "organic remains found in rock"
• involving or affecting physiology or bodily organs; "an organic disease"
• of or relating to foodstuff grown or raised without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides or hormones; "organic eggs"; "organic vegetables"; "organic chicken"
• simple and healthful and close to nature; "an organic lifestyle"
• a fertilizer that is derived from animal or vegetable matter
• constituent(a): constitutional in the structure of something (especially your physical makeup)
  wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
• At its most basic level, organic wine is made from grapes that have been grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides and ...
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_(wine)
• Organic foods are made according to certain production standards. The use of conventional non-organic pesticides, insecticides and herbicides is greatly restricted and avoided as a last resort. However, contrary to popular belief, certain non-organic fertilizers are still used. ...
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_(food)
• In military terminology, organic refers to a military unit that is a permanent part of a larger unit and (usually) provides some specialized capability to that parent unit. ...
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_(military)
• Organic is the sixth full length studio album CD by heavy metal, hard rock, progressive metal band Freak Kitchen. It was released on 27 April 2005, globally, through Thunderstruc Records.
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_(album)
• Organic is an album by Joe Cocker, released in 1996 (see 1996 in music).
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_(Joe_Cocker_album)
• Organic describes forms, methods and patterns found in living systems such as the organisation of cells, to populations, communities, and ecosystems.
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_(model)
• An organic compound; pertaining to, derived from, like, of the nature of, an organ of the body; relating to the compounds of carbon, relating to natural products; of food or food products, grown in an environment free from artificial agro-chemicals, and possibly certified by a regulatory body ...
  en.wiktionary.org/wiki/organic
• organically - as an important constituent; "the drapery served organically to cover the Madonna"
  wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn