Check-off List for Possible Aquaculture Project
There are many things that can determine the success or failure of an aquaculture project, some being: land costs, property taxes, labor costs, transportation costs, many zoning and land use restrictions, getting enough water to operate the facility, utility costs, supply/feed costs, restrictive waste disposal and environmental regulations, predation by protected birds, disease problems and costs, operating money available, politics, permits, theft, weather, sabotage, insurance, emergency back-up equipment, sloppy work, qualified workers, site location, facility design, research on aquaculture procedures, etc.
Before a farmer or any other person jumps into the "great potential" of aquaculture he should consider answers to the following:
Agencies
--Does agency proposing the project have ANY successful private aquaculture ventures that it advised presently in operation and making a profit?
--Did agency proposing the project EVER spawn a successful aquaculture venture?
--What help or opposition will he get from various county, state, and federal agencies, etc.?
--Are there any agencies that will do joint projects, or fund a grant for studies on a particular aquaculture species?
Disasters
--Are there plans/equipment to prevent sudden losses of stock/ power during disasters?
--Can he quickly get labor to move stock if needed?
--Does he have a plan on how to recover/ control/ kill escaped stock?
--Can he get federal assistance for recovery in case of a disaster?
Labor
--Are there qualified people to work in aquaculture in the area that he can hire?
--Are labor costs too high?
Location
--How will his operation affect his neighbors, or those (or the environment) down-slope or downstream? Liability insurance.
--Is land high enough so that property will not be flooded during floods or storm surges?
--Is site drainage good?
--Can the soil retain water in ponds? Will the ponds hold water if lined with clay?
--Does soil contain toxins or contaminants of any kind that could affect his living crop?
--Will he have to put expensive liners into ponds to retain water or avoid toxins in soil?
--Will anyone be available to live on the grounds?
--Can all the necessary permits be obtained for the site/facility?
--Is site on a private, or dead-end road so traffic can be somewhat limited?
Operating/facility costs
--What are all the costs of physical facilities (buildings, ponds, tanks, roads, wells, etc.), water, utilities, equipment, vehicles, feed, labor, repair, maintenance, transportation, communication, security, marketing product, permits, waste disposal, insurance, etc., etc.?
--Is there enough operating capital to sustain operation until a profit is reached?
--Is there a good, detailed business plan?
--How long can he operate without another operation in a cheaper country putting out a cheaper product?
--Can he save costs by using family as workers?
--What federal or state asistance is available for a new aquaculture venture?
Parasites, diseases, predators
--Is there a specialist in parasites/diseases close by that can assist in times of need? What are costs?
--Are there agency or Extension Service qualified people available for advice?
--How will he handle bird predation? Or predation by snakes, frogs, etc.?
Permits, etc.
--Is he zoned to do an aquaculture project?
--Can he get enough good water to run facility?
--Can he drill wells, or pipe water from another location?
--Can he get permits for water disposal/ discharge?
--Are there any endangered species on the site proposed?
--Can he get permits to control predatory birds?
--Can he get permits to raise the organisms he is interested in selling?
Stock
--Is there a reliable source of healthy young organisms to obtain to stock out?
--Can he easily raise his own organisms to stock out?
--Is there a market close by that will take any/all of his product?
--Where are the different markets for the products (live, dressed, frozen, breaded, etc) ?
--How will he prevent escape of his stock into environment?
--What are the fines for escaped stock?
--How will he secure his stock from predation, theft, and sabotage?
Time
--Can he and his family live 24 hours a day for the aquaculture operation?
Wastes
--Can he get a wastewater discharge permit? For blood and organism fluids?
--Can he get a discharge permit for various chemicals used in sterilizing tanks and equipment, and for drugs/ chemicals used in the treatment of diseases/ parasites?
--Can he dispose of dead stock and not offend neighbors or pollute local waters?
--Does he have a way of disposal of waste byproducts from processing his product?
Adrian R. Lawler, Ph.D. (C) 2012 --
