Because the authors work in the promotion and instruction of aquaculture in developing nations, they have written in simple terms without lengthy technical explanations. Their book fills a gap in the literature in that it covers the management of fish farms in developing nations as well as the biological aspects. After dealing with life history, breeding and rearing of young, they write on water quality management, pond construction, integrated aquaculture with pigs, poultry and agriculture, business-related subjects such as marketing and accounting, and extension and research support for development. The book therefore becomes a compendium of information on all aspects of extensive aquaculture, from the breeding of fish to the operation and management of an aquaculture business in developing countries.
The Handbook on small-scale freshwater fish farming provides a wealth of simply presented and illustrated information on freshwater fish farming in ponds, pens and cages, compiled form five booklets published on the subject in FAO s Better Farming Series between 1979 and 1990. Here is an improved format, particulars of pond, pen and cage location, construction and management are covered in outlines that can be modified to suit local conditions. The handbook is primarily intended to help workers, technicians and teachers present their knowledge of freshwater fish farming to small-scale farmers. For example, it can be used as a trainers aid in conjunction with the five original booklets, which can be distributed among trainees. The handbook ends with a set of questions that could be used to tests the trainees comprehension. Contents Chapter 1: Introduction; What is fish farming?, Why do we raise fish?, What do you need to raise fish?, How do we begin?; Chapter 2: Locating your Fish Farm; Where to put your fish pond, Water supply, Soil quality, Testing soil; Chapter 3: Constructing Fish Ponds; How large should your pond be?, How to build a 20 by 20 metre pond; Chapter 4: Inlets to Let Water into the Pond; Simple inlets, A better inlet; Chapter 5: Outlets to Let Water Out of the Pond; Simple outlets, A better outlet, Another kind of outlet: the monk, Improving your pipe outlet, Using a siphon to drain your pond; Chapter 6: Bringing Water to your Ponds; Raising the level of your water supply, Digging a supply ditch, Digging a return ditch, Building a sluice to control the water flow; Chapter 7: Controlling the Water in the Pond; Overflow, Controlling trash and fish: screens; Chapter 8: Preparing your Pond; Before filling the pond, Fertilizing the water, How to make plant compost, How to make animal compost, Building a crib, Putting fertilizer into the crib, When is your pond ready?; Chapter 9: Stocking your Pond with Baby Fish; Growing your own baby fish, Feeding the fish in your nursery pond, Using your baby fish, Transporting your baby fish, Putting baby fish into your pond; Chapter 10: Taking Care of your Pond; Chapter 11: Taking Care of your Fish; Feeding your growing fish, Providing good water for your fish; Chapter 12: Harvesting your Pond; Harvesting without draining the water, Harvesting by draining part of the water, Harvesting by draining all of the water, Harvesting fish when you have a monk, Harvesting inside the pond, Harvesting outside the pond, Harvesting many fish, What to do with your baby fish; Chapter 13: Beginning Again; Chapter 14: Improving Farm Management; Growing fish all year round, Growing only male fish; Chapter 15: Producing Fish in Pens; Locating fish pens, How large should your pen be?, Building a pen, Putting baby fish into your pen, Feeding fish in pens, Taking care of your fish in a pen, Taking care of your fish pen, Harvesting fish in pens, Starting again; Chapter 16: Producing Fish in Cages; Locating fish cages, Building a cage, Building a simple post cage, Building a simple floating cage, Building a better floating cage, Putting baby fish in the cage, Feeding fish in cages, Taking care of your fish in a cage, Taking care of the cage, Harvesting fish in cages, Starting again; Chapter 17: Your Farm and your Fish Ponds; Chapter 18: Keeping you and your Family Healthy.
Between 1979 and 1990 five booklets in FAO's Better Farming Series dealt with freshwater fish farming in ponds, pens and cages. Written and illustrated by Tom Laughlin, with technical contributions from many FAO headquarters and field staff coordinated by the Inland Water Resources and Aquaculture Service, these booklets have been popular with aquaculture training and development staff as extension tools. Now compiled into the Handbook on small-scale freshwater fish farming, this wealth of simply presented and illustrated information becomes available in an improved format. Pond, pen and cage location, construction and management are covered in outlines that can be modified to suit local conditions. The handbook is primarily intended for extension workers, technicians and teachers, to help them in presenting their knowledge of freshwater fish farming to small-scale farmers. For example, the handbook can be used as a trainers' aid in conjunction with the five original booklets' which can be distributed among trainees. The simple English employed in the text lends itself to easy translation into other languages, while the diagrams can be easily reproduced or enlarged for screen projection. The handbook ends with a set of questions that could be used to test the comprehension of trainees.
