Aquaponics Aquaponics isis the Future the Future

Friendly Aquaponics located in Honokaa, Friendly Aquaponics located in Honokaa, HawaiiHawaii

What is it?What is it?

AquaAquaculture (growing culture (growing fish in tanks), plusfish in tanks), plus

HydroHydroponicsponics, (growing , (growing vegetables in a vegetables in a nutrient solution),nutrient solution),

Combined in a single, Combined in a single, recirculating system recirculating system

Equals Equals AquaponicsAquaponics

What are Aquaponics What are Aquaponics advantages?advantages?

Vegetable production up to 30 times in the same Vegetable production up to 30 times in the same land area as a regular farmland area as a regular farm

Water use of only 1% of a regular farmWater use of only 1% of a regular farm Fish production in addition to vegetablesFish production in addition to vegetables Additional saleable by-products (fish meal, dried Additional saleable by-products (fish meal, dried

fertilizer and mulch)fertilizer and mulch) Scaleable: family-sized to large commercial Scaleable: family-sized to large commercial

systems can be built and run economicallysystems can be built and run economically

Aquaponics Operation in Aquaponics Operation in University of the Virgin University of the Virgin

IslandsIslands

Aquaponics Technology is Aquaponics Technology is Simple and EasySimple and Easy

Low-tech and easy to buildLow-tech and easy to build Biofilter technology used is low-costBiofilter technology used is low-cost Synergistic: the fish supply nutrients for Synergistic: the fish supply nutrients for

the vegetables; the vegetables clean the the vegetables; the vegetables clean the fish water for return to the fish tanksfish water for return to the fish tanks

Only system inputs are fish feed, seeds, Only system inputs are fish feed, seeds, and makeup water for evaporationand makeup water for evaporation

Balanced and stable; runs for years Balanced and stable; runs for years without water exchanges or cleaningwithout water exchanges or cleaning

Technology (continued)Technology (continued)

Whole SystemWhole System

Fish Tank

Filter Tanks

No herbicides, only organic methods used for pest control (fish tanks and filter tanks are in shade house in background)

Yields for a Yields for a single single

commercial commercial systemsystem

200-300 lbs/week200-300 lbs/week

vegetables, dependingvegetables, depending

on varieties grownon varieties grown

200 lbs/week fish200 lbs/week fish

Originators/ResearchersOriginators/Researchers

University of the Virgin Islands team: University of the Virgin Islands team: Dr. James Rakocy, Don Bailey, Charles Dr. James Rakocy, Don Bailey, Charles Shultz, Jason Danaher (www:uvi.edu)Shultz, Jason Danaher (www:uvi.edu)

UVI sponsors a yearly “short course” UVI sponsors a yearly “short course” in aquaponics that is highly in aquaponics that is highly informative and comprehensive, and informative and comprehensive, and covers all their research results for covers all their research results for the last 25 years.the last 25 years.

Friendly Aquaponics, IncFriendly Aquaponics, Inc

Built and installed first of six systems Built and installed first of six systems September 2007 (based on UVI model), September 2007 (based on UVI model), completion of all six slated for late 2008completion of all six slated for late 2008

Six-system yield 1,200 lbs fish and Six-system yield 1,200 lbs fish and 2,000-3,000 lbs vegetables per week.2,000-3,000 lbs vegetables per week.

Www:friendlyaquaponics.comWww:friendlyaquaponics.com Email:friend@hawaiiantel.netEmail:friend@hawaiiantel.net Phone: 808-775-7745Phone: 808-775-7745