The Tilapia Project: Dominican Republic Project Update

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Dominican Republic Project Update

Our friend Stefan Schmid was unable to make his trip from Haiti to the DR due to the bad timing of Hurricane Tomas. Instead, Stefan had to make a quick getaway back to the states. So, we will find another way to make contact in the coming weeks. Stay tuned as God continues His work. It's always an adventure!

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Thoughts on Growing Tilapia for Food

Keep it as simple as possible. Let the fish do what they do best (grow and reproduce) so you can do what you do best.

Yes, it is about growing food for people in need, but it has to be about more than that. God is the reason we want to feed people. Give him the credit and the glory.

“If we only feed hungry people, they will still die someday without knowing that it was God who fed them.” (Todd Hinkey) Let them know that this project came from God for them.

Find the right person to oversee the project on the ground. God will provide this person. Wait for His choice.Set the project up to provide a job to as many as possible. The project will need help with the harvest, feeding, pond maintenance, nets to be made, security, distribution, etc. You can use shares of harvested fish to pay these employees at first, then money as it grows. One day of labor = one day of food

Set the project up to multiply itself. We don’t want to create a fish baron in any community. Get the project manager to agree to tithe from his harvest. He should find the next Tilapia Project and give those fish to get them started. In this way the project will grow and keep growing.

Maintaining Your Fish and Ponds

Thinning

Population thinning may be necessary in order to prevent stunting. Populations may be reduced by as much as half (2000 lbs/acre stocking rate) in order to ensure continued growth of fish. Any fish removed from a pond will be dried, ground, and recycled into their original ponds as feed.

Reproduction

It will be necessary for fish to reproduce before harvesting in order to maintain the fish culture for successive generations. Once fry (newly hatched fish) are observed at a rate of 4000 lbs/acre, adult fish may be removed from the pond by seining. If over-population is indicated, thinning of the fry or fingerlings may take place as necessary. Optimally all fry or fingerlings will be approximately the same size to begin successive cultures.

Harvest

Once fish have attained an average target weight of 0.75 lbs and reproduction has occurred at the necessary rate, harvest can begin. Harvested fish should be promptly consumed, or preserved using culturally appropriate methods for sale or distribution.

Site Evaluation Questions

The following questions should be answered in the process of evaluating the feasibility of tilapia culture at a new site:

Pond size, depth, and age? (used to determine stocking rates)

Sufficient water supply or watershed?

Water temperature range? (highs and lows)

Presence of other species in pond? (list known species, used to determine possible predation risks)

Availability of tilapia for stocking? (list sizes and prices if known)

Availability of equipment necessary for culture? (see equipment list)

Availability of supplemental feed if indicated for more intensive culture? (list prices)

Proximity to market or need?

Equipment Requirements

This list can be used to help you form a budget for your Tilapia Project:

number of ponds and dimensions (no larger than can be easily seined)?

Price to construct per pond?
Labor
Equipment
Flowing water source (piping?)

transportation costs?
tilapia
large seine, 2 to 3 inch mesh, length and depth appropriate for ponds
small seine, ¼ inch mesh, length and depth appropriate for ponds
dip nets
large coolers to transport live fish and/or harvested fish
fish food
fencing materials (if necessary)
harvest and fish prep supplies

knives