Aquaculture and pollution studies of an Australian fish : silver perch, Bidyanus bidyanus (Mitchell 1838) (Teraponidae)

The silver perch, Bidyanus bidyanus is an Australian native fish of great aquaculture potential. Currently, silver perch represent a major freshwater aquaculture industry in Australia. There have been some research on the biology and nutrition of silver perch but until now there has been no research on the quality and quantity of wastes that may result from aquaculture of silver perch or other species in Australia. The present study was undertaken primarily to investigate the biological growth of silver perch juveniles fed on artificial and sewage grown zooplankton, and quantifies solid and nutrient load from rearing of silver perch at different temperatures. The present study demonstrated that silver perch can grow significantly faster at a temperature close to it's optimum. It also show that sewage grown zooplankton was an inexpensive and alternative diet in the rearing of silver perch juveniles. The study reveals that culture of fish at their optimum temperature may enhance nutrient retention and a reduction in the discharge of nutrient to the environment. The study further indicated that rearing of silver perch in a slightly saline conditions may be another option for achieving better growth rates and provide a lower nutrient loading to the environment