Aquaculture-agriculture systems integration: an Australian prospective

The concept of integrating aquaculture with irrigated fanning systems was e valuated in three projects in the Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District (GMID ) in south-eastern Australia. (1) Semi-intensive cage culture trials using silver perch, Bidyanus bidyanus (Mitchell), were undertaken in a range of i rrigated farming systems: irrigation supply channels, groundwater supplies; and on-farm storage dams. Survival and growth of fish under these conditio ns were comparable to fish reared in conventional aquaculture ponds. Howeve r, poor water quality at some sites reduced survival and growth. (2) A stud y was undertaken to assess the feasibility of the cage culture of silver pe rch and rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), in three irrigation w ater storage reservoirs. Conditions within each reservoir, particularly wat er quality, wind and wave action, and cage fouling, varied considerably, an d influenced fish growth and survival. (3) Mariculture trials were undertak en in two saline groundwater evaporation basins, which were part of an inte grated agriforestry and salt reclamation system. The species tested include d two oyster, two prawn and nine fish species. Some species exhibited excep tional survival and growth rates under trial conditions. These projects ind icate that the concept of integrating aquaculture with existing irrigated f anning systems has the potential to enhance productivity, water use efficie ncy and overall environmental sustainability in the GMID.