The use of renewable energy to improve the sustainability of Southeastern U.S. pond aquaculture: technical, economic, and industry evaluations of solar power options

Project Overview

LS05-181
Project Type: Research and Education
Funds awarded in 2005: $14,850.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2007
Region: Southern
State: Alabama
Principal Investigator:
Barrett Temple-Vaughan
Email
Tuskegee University

Commodities

  • Animals: fish, shellfish

Practices

  • Education and Training: networking
  • Farm Business Management: feasibility study

    Proposal abstract:

    Pond aquaculture in the southeastern U.S., primarily catfish farming, is profitable, but may not be very sustainable because of its large inputs of feeds, chemicals, and energy. One recommendation to improve its sustainability is to manage the use and costs of aeration (Boyd and Tucker 1995). This planning proposal has the goal of forming collaborations between the industry stakeholders in order to develop full proposals to examine the use of renewable energy technologies to control or reduce aeration.

    Project objectives from proposal:

    1. Bring together the stakeholders to discuss the current research findings, potential uses, and research needs for renewable energy water circulator use in aquaculture.
    2. Coordinate the writing of the proposal(s) and facilitate collaborations between the stakeholders.
    3. Extend the current research at Tuskegee University for gathering preliminary data to support a full proposal.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.