Fish Production (fish + production)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Fisheries of two tropical lagoons in Ghana, West Africa

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT & ECOLOGY, Issue 6 2004
H. R. Dankwa
Abstract, The fisheries of two coastal lagoons, Keta and Songor, were studied as part of Ghana Coastal Wetlands Management Project (GCWMP) aimed at sustainable exploitation of wetland resources. Fish samples were obtained with seine nets and cast net as well as from local fishermen. Water quality parameters (pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature and turbidity) were similar in the two lagoons, except for salinity, which was significantly different (P < 0.001). Despite their close geographical proximity, the two lagoons supported different fish assemblages with the blackchin tilapia, Sarotherodon melanotheron Rüppell, and the redchin tilapia, Tilapia guineensis (Bleeker), being the most important commercial fishes in both lagoons. The number of individuals for each species in Songor Lagoon were far more abundant, with densities several orders of magnitude higher than in Keta Lagoon. However, both species were significantly larger (P < 0.01) in the latter [15,121 and 25,157 mm standard length (SL)] than in the former lagoon (30,102 and 15,95 mm SL) for S. melanotheron and T. guineensis respectively. Over-fishing, use of small-size mesh nets, limited mixing of marine and fresh water were some of the factors limiting fish production in both lagoons. [source]


Impacts of long-term changes in fishery management on the trophic level water quality in Czech fish ponds

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT & ECOLOGY, Issue 1-2 2000
L. Pechar
The management of Czech fish ponds changed little from the Middle Ages until the end of the nineteenth century. The intensification of fish production was initiated during the first half of the twentieth century. During the 1930s, liming and manuring of the ponds became common. A greater density of stocking led to the use of artificial feeds in the form of pellets and grain. These changes in pond management have led to an increase in fish production from ,,50 to >,500 kg ha,1 year,1 over the last 5 decades. At the same time, the quality of the water and sediments has been deteriorating, and the functioning of the pond ecosystem has been disturbed. There are now massive blooms of phytoplankton, especially cyanobacteria, accompanied by great fluctuations in the oxygen concentration and pH. Data collected since 1925, when systematic research on the ponds started, allow the mechanisms responsible for the changes to be traced. [source]


Implications of interannual variability in euphausiid population biology for fish production along the south-west coast of Vancouver Island: a synthesis

FISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY, Issue 1 2002
R. W. Tanasichuk
This is a synthesis of published and unpublished research on euphausiid and fish populations using the south-west coast of Vancouver Island. Overall, the studies covered 1985,98, when there were two ENSO events and considerable variation in upwelling. The population biology of the dominant euphausiids (Thysanoessa spinifera, Euphausiapacifica) was monitored during 1991,98. The species abundance trends differed. Results of simple correlation analyses suggested that variations in temperature, salinity and upwelling do not explain variations in the abundance of larval or adult euphausiids, or in the abundance of portions of euphausiid populations on which fish feed. I found significant interannual variations in daily ration of the dominant planktivorous fish species, but euphausiids remained the most important prey. Pacific hake (Merluccius productus), the dominant planktivore, fed on larger (>17 mm) T. spinifera, even though the biomass of this part of the euphausiid biomass decreased by 75% between 1991 and 1997, but Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi) may have begun feeding on smaller E. pacifica. Therefore, any study of the relationship between fish production and krill biology must consider that part of the euphausiid biomass exploited by fish. In addition, some fish species and/or life history stages appeared to adapt to changes in euphausiid availability, while others did not. Such variation in adaptations also has to be described and considered to understand how changes in euphausiid biology affect fish productivity. [source]


Fish community characteristics of the lower Gambia River floodplains: a study in the last major undisturbed West African river

FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2009
VASILIS LOUCA
Summary 1.,The Gambia River is the last major West African river that has not been impounded. However, a hydroelectric dam is being constructed and substantial changes to the hydrology and ecology of the system are expected. 2.,Little information is available on the impact of water impoundments in semi-arid regions on downstream floodplain fish communities, due to the scarcity of pre-intervention data. Because profound impacts on physical habitat, salinity and nutrient transport can occur downstream of such impoundments, a knowledge of the species-habitat associations of biota such as fishes is necessary for understanding likely changes and how to limit them. 3.,Fish were sampled using cast and hand nets along two transects on the floodplain, and with fyke nets in two ,bolongs' (creeks) from May to November 2005 and 2006 in the lower reaches of the Gambia River, close to the salt water front where ecological changes due to the construction of the dam are likely to be pronounced. 4.,Greatest fish species richness was associated with low conductivity, low pH and deep water. Bolongs held greater species richness compared with other floodplain habitats, probably because they acted as conduits for fish moving on and off the floodplain. Species richness and catch biomass increased rapidly following the first rains and then declined. 5.,Using a multivariate analysis, three main species groups were identified on the floodplain; one associated with deeper water, one with less brackish water and one with shallow, open water. Tilapia guineensis was the commonest species on the floodplains. 6.,The floodplains provide nursery habitats as many fish captured were immature, particularly for species where adults are mainly encountered in the main channel. Several small-sized floodplain specialists were also represented by a high proportion of mature individuals. 7.,Impoundment is expected to reduce seasonal flooding of the floodplain in the lower Gambia River, downstream of the impoundment, resulting in reduced occurrence of aquatic habitats, especially bolongs, together with lower dissolved oxygen and increased salinity, leading to alteration of the floodplain fish communities, benefiting salt-tolerant species, reducing overall species richness and probably reducing floodplain fish production. [source]


The suitability of muscle of Cirrhinus mrigala in the formation of gel: a comparative electrophoretic study of six tropical carp meats

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 1 2008
Rupsankar Chakrabarti
Summary The annual inland fish production in India is 3.2 million tonnes and above. Aquaculture is around 80% of total inland fish production. The enhanced aquaculture production demands alternate processing methods for better utilisation of the farmed fish. Cirrhinus mrigala is one of the dominated species among cultured Indian major carps, but rated with lowest price. Fish meat with good gel-forming capacity is a prerequisite in the production of fast-moving fabricated analogue product. Cirrhinus mrigala had the highest gel strength, i.e. 435 gcm of its fresh meat in comparison with other carps. Apart from the highest protein and salt-soluble protein nitrogen content in fresh C. mrigala meat, this article also reports that the presence of the darkest thick band of myosin heavy chain and actin in the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis pattern of salt-soluble extract of C. mrigala might be another possible reason for the highest gel strength in comparison with other carps. Cirrhinus mrigala contained white meat around 90%. This carp could be suitably used in the preparation of high-valued fabricated analogue product. [source]


Ecological, environmental and socioeconomic aspects of the Lake Victoria's introduced Nile perch fishery in relation to the native fisheries and the species culture potential: lessons to learn

AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2007
John S. Balirwa
Abstract Inland fishery ecosystems in Africa are characterized by patterns of overexploitation, environmental degradation and exotic species introductions. Ecological complexity and diversity of aquatic habitats dictate that fishes in general are not evenly distributed in a water body. However, fisheries management regimes tend to ignore this basic principle, assume generalized conditions in a water body, and focus more on ,desired' objectives such as maximizing catch. The result is to disregard fish habitat boundaries and anthropogenic influences from the catchment that influence fish production. Overexploitation and environmental degradation disrupt sustainable socioeconomic benefits from the fisheries, create uncertainty among investors, but leave some managers calling for more information with the expectation that the fisheries will recover with time. Open access to the fisheries and full control of fishing effort remain challenges for managers. Exotic species introductions and fish farming can increase production, but such interventions require firm commitment to sound ecological principles and strict enforcement of recommended conservation and co-management measures in capture fisheries. The general tendency to downplay fishing effort issues, other ecosystem values and functions or rely on temperate fisheries models until a new cycle of overexploitation emerges, characterizes many management patterns in inland fisheries. Aquaculture is not an option to challenges in capture fisheries management. Aquaculture should be developed to increase fish production but even this practice may have negative environmental impacts depending on practice and scale. Decades of information on Lake Victoria fisheries trends and aquaculture development did not stop the collapse of native fisheries. The successfully introduced Nile perch (Lates niloticus) has shown signs of overexploitation and aquaculture has again been considered as the option. By reviewing significant trends associated with Nile perch and its feasibility in aquaculture this paper uses Lake Victoria to illustrate ,special interest management' targeting selected species of fish rather than the fisheries. Résumé Les écosystèmes africains où se pratique la pêche intérieure se caractérisent par des schémas de surexploitation, de dégradation environnementale et d'introductions d'espèces exotiques. La complexité et la diversité des habitats aquatiques impliquent que les poissons ne sont, en général, pas distribués de façon uniforme dans une entité aquatique. Pourtant, les divers régimes de gestion des pêcheries tendent à ignorer ce principe élémentaire, présument de conditions uniformes dans une entité aquatique et visent plus les objectifs « souhaités », comme des prises maximales. Le résultat, c'est que l'on ne tient pas compte des limites de l'habitat des poissons et des impacts anthropiques du bassin versant qui influencent la production de poisson. La surexploitation et la dégradation de l'environnement compromettent les bénéfices socio-économiques durables de la pêche, engendrent l'incertitude parmi les investisseurs et font que certains gestionnaires sollicitent plus d'informations dans l'attente que la pêche se redresse avec le temps. L'accès libre à la pêche et le contrôle total des efforts de pêche restent de vrais défis pour les gestionnaires. Les introductions d'espèces exotiques et les fermes piscicoles peuvent augmenter la production, mais ces interventions exigent un engagement solide vis-à-vis des principes écologiques responsables et l'application stricte des mesures de conservation et de co-gestion recommandées pour la pêche. La tendance générale à minimiser les problèmes des efforts de pêche et les autres valeurs et fonctions de l'écosystème, ou à se baser sur des modèles de pêche tempérés jusqu'à ce qu'un nouveau cycle de surexploitation émerge, caractérise de nombreux schémas de gestion de pêche intérieure. L'aquaculture n'est pas une option pour les défis auxquels fait face la gestion de la pêche. L'aquaculture devrait être développée pour augmenter la production de poisson, mais même cette pratique peut avoir des impacts environnementaux négatifs dus à l'échelle et à la façon dont on la pratique. Des décennies d'informations sur les tendances de la pêche et le développement de l'aquaculture dans le lac Victoria n'ont pas empêché l'effondrement de la pêche originale. La perche du Nil (Lates niloticus), introduite avec succès montre des signes de surexploitation et l'aquaculture a de nouveau été envisagée. En passant en revue les tendances significatives liées à la perche du Nil et la faisabilité de son aquaculture, cet article se sert du lac Victoria pour illustrer la « gestion d'intérêt spécial » qui vise des espèces de poissons sélectionnées plutôt que la pêche. [source]


Forest change and stream fish habitat: lessons from ,Olde' and New England

JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 2005
K. H. Nislow
The North Atlantic region has a long history of land use change that has influenced and will continue to influence stream ecosystems and fisheries production. This paper explores and compares the potential consequences of changes in forest cover for fish production in upland, coldwater stream environments in New England, U.S.A. and the British Isles, two regions which share important similarities with respect to overall physical, biotic and socio-economic setting. Both regions were extensively deforested and essentially no extensive old-growth forest stands remain. In New England, recovering forests, consisting almost entirely of naturally-regenerated native species, now cover >60% of the landscape. Associated with this large-scale reforestation, open landscapes, common in the 19th and first half the 20th century, are currently rare and declining in this region. In the British Isles, forests still cover <20% of the landscape, and existing forests largely consist of exotic conifer plantations stocked at high stand densities and harvested at frequent rotations. While forest restoration and conservation is frequently recommended as a fisheries habitat conservation and restoration tool, consideration of the way in which forests affect essential aspects of fish habitat suggests that response of upland stream fish to landscape change is inherently complex. Under certain environmental settings and reforestation practices, conversion of open landscapes to young-mature forests can negatively impact fish production. Further, the effects of re-establishing old-growth forests are difficult to predict for the two regions (due to the current absence of such landscapes), and are likely to depend strongly on the extent to which critical ecosystem attributes (large-scale disturbances, fish migrations, keystone species, large woody debris recruitment) are allowed to be re-established. Understanding these context-dependencies is critical for predicting fish responses, and should help managers set realistic conservation, management and restoration goals. Management may best be served by promoting a diversity of land cover types in a way that emulates natural landscape and disturbance dynamics. This goal presents very different challenges in New England and the British Isles due to differences in current and predicted land use trajectories, along with differences in ecological context and public perception. [source]


The Chalan beel in Bangladesh: Habitat and biodiversity degradation, and implications for future management

LAKES & RESERVOIRS: RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2009
Mostafa A. R. Hossain
Abstract This study provides an overview of the current resources and fisheries status of the Chalan beel, and identifies the scope of opportunities to evolve existing fisheries management strategies, focusing on fish biodiversity conservation. Chalan beel is the largest, most important watershed in the North Central Bangladesh, and covers an area of about 375 km2 during the monsoon season. The watershed serves about 5 million people, predominantly through fisheries and agricultural activities. Although considerably degraded over time, Chalan beel still supports a diverse ichthyofauna of major importance to the local economy and people's livelihoods. The Chalan beel area incorporates 21 rivers and 93 smaller seasonal beels of varying size. Most of the rivers and beels are at risk of partial or total degradation, as a result of agricultural encroachment, siltation and other anthropogenic activities. During the study, , 83% of the rivers, and 68% of the beels in the lean season, shrunk to 0,5% of their maximum (monsoon) water-spread area during the dry season (i.e. critical levels for survival of many fish species). A fish catch survey was carried out in the main fishing season (July to December) over two successive years in the three most important catchment areas; namely, the Gumani, Baral and Katagang Rivers. A total of 72 sampling episodes yielded 9818 individuals, representing 114 fish species. The most abundant fish species during the 2-year study period were punti (Puntius sophore and Puntius ticto), followed by chanda (Chanda nama and Parambassis ranga), chapila (Gudusia chapra) and tengra (Mystus vittatus). The study results indicate at least 19 fish species once considered abundant can now be classified as threatened, with a possibility of local extinction. The mean fish catch was 2.08 ± 0.49 kg, and 1.29 ± 0.32 kg per hour per person, by suti jal (set bag net , the most common gear used in the beel) in 2005 and 2006, respectively, with a significant (P < 0.05) variation among catches in months and years at all three sample sites. In 2005,2006, the annual fish production in Chalan beel was 12 217 tonnes, being less than half of the production observed in 1982. The stakeholders identified several major causes they thought were directly responsible for the continued decrease in fish production and biodiversity of the beel area. Several management strategies were suggested by the same stakeholders, and the findings are discussed in the context of overall developments in the Chalan beel fisheries related to habitat and biodiversity management. [source]


Nocturnal fish utilization of a subtropical mangrove-seagrass ecotone

MARINE ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2010
Neil Hammerschlag
Abstract Whereas diel fish migration between mangrove and seagrass habitats has been recognized for decades, quantitative studies have focused mainly on diurnal patterns of fish distribution and abundance. In general, previous studies have shown that fish abundances decline with increasing distance from mangroves; however, evidence for such a pattern at night, when many fishes are actively feeding, is scarce. The present study is the first to report nocturnal fish abundances along a continuous distance gradient from mangroves across adjacent seagrass habitat (0,120 m). Here, we used nocturnal seine sampling to test the null hypothesis (based on diurnal studies and limited nocturnal work) that fish abundance would decrease with increasing distance from shoreline. We focused on species and life-stage-specific abundance patterns of Lutjanus griseus, Sphyraena barracuda, Archosargus rhomboidalis, and Haemulon sciurus. Results indicated that assemblage composition and structure differed significantly by season, likely influenced by temperature. However, within each season, the fish habitat use pattern at both the assemblage and species-specific level generally failed to support our working null hypothesis. Species-specific analyses revealed that, for most species and life-stages examined, nocturnal abundance either did not change with distance or increased with distance from the mangrove-seagrass ecotone. Our results suggest that analyses where taxa are grouped to report overall patterns may have the potential to overlook significant species- and stage-specific variation. For fishes known to make nocturnal migrations, we recommend nocturnal sampling to determine habitat utilization patterns, especially when inferring nursery value of multiple habitats or when estimating fish production. [source]


Rice versus fish revisited: On the integrated management of floodplain resources in Bangladesh

NATURAL RESOURCES FORUM, Issue 2 2004
Bhavani Shankar
Abstract Disproportionately little attention has been paid to the dry season trade-off between rice and (inland capture) fish production on the floodplains of Bangladesh, compared to the same trade-off during the flood season. As the rural economy grows increasingly dominated by dry-season irrigated rice production, and floodplain land and water come under ever-increasing pressure during the dry winter months, there is an urgent need to focus attention on these dry months that are so critical to the survival and propagation of the floodplain resident fish, and to the poor people that depend on these fish for their livelihood. This article examines three important dry-season natural resource constraints to floodplain livelihoods in Bangladesh, and finds a common factor at the heart of all three: rice cultivation on lands at low and very low elevations. The article articulates the system interlinkages that bind these constraints and the long-run trend towards irrigated rice cropping on lower-lying lands, and suggests a management approach based on locally tailored strategies to arrest this trend. Apart from its direct relevance to the floodplains of Bangladesh, which support more than 100 million people, these lessons have relevance for river floodplain systems elsewhere in the developing world, notably the Mekong Delta. [source]


Efficacy of an experimentally inactivated Streptococcus agalactiae vaccine in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared in Brazil

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 10 2010
Lucienne Garcia Pretto-Giordano
Abstract Tilapia aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing segments of fish production in Brazil. Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is largely cultivated in the state of Parana, where Streptococcus agalactiae is the cause of severe disease outbreaks. The objective of this paper was to evaluate an inactivated S. agalactiae vaccine in tilapia for the control of streptococcal disease outbreaks. Tilapia, weighing approximately 20 g each, were intraperitoneally (i.p.) inoculated with 0.1 mL of the vaccine at a dose of 2.0 × 108 colony-forming unit (CFU) mL,1. One group of tilapia (treatment 1) received one vaccine dose, and the other group of tilapia (treatment 2) received two doses, with an interval of 21 days. The control group was i.p. inoculated with 0.1 mL tryptic soy broth fish,1. Immunized and control tilapia were i.p. challenged with 0.1 mL of 3.0 × 107 CFU mL,1 at 30 days post vaccination. The fish were monitored daily for disease signs and for mortality for 16 days post challenge. A statistically significant difference (P=0.0045) was found between the mortality of treatments 1 and 2. The value of relative per cent of survival of 83.6% and 96.4%, respectively, indicate that this vaccine was efficient in Nile tilapia. [source]


Effect of feed restriction on the growth performance of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) juveniles under commercial rearing conditions

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 8 2010
Isidro Blanquet
Abstract Two trials were performed to study the effect of periodic feed deprivation (trial 1) or feed restriction, followed by satiation feeding (trial 2) on the growth performance of turbot juveniles under commercial rearing conditions. In trial 1, duplicate groups of 350 fish with an initial weight of 62 g were fed a commercial diet to apparent visual satiation for 7, 6, 5 or 4 days a week for 83 days. At the end of the trial, fish weight was directly related to the number of feeding days but feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio were not affected by treatments. At the end of the trial, there were no differences in whole-body composition among groups. In trial 2, duplicate groups of 500 fish with an initial weight of 33 g were fed a commercial diet to satiation (100%) or feed restricted to 90%, 80% and 70% of satiation for 90 days. Thereafter, all groups were fed to satiation for 34 days. During the feed restriction period, growth was directly related to feed intake, while during the satiation feeding period, it was inversely related to the previous feeding level. At the end of the trial, the final weight was not different among groups. At the end of the feed restriction period, whole-body lipid content showed a trend to decrease with an increase in the feed restriction level. The results of this study indicate that under practical conditions, turbot juveniles should be fed daily as even cycles of short periods of feed deprivation negatively affect growth, while not improving feed efficiency. On the contrary, even after a relatively long feed restriction period, fish shows compensatory growth, and this may be used as a feed management strategy for controlling fish production in commercial farms. [source]


The impacts of aquaculture development on food security: lessons from Bangladesh

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 4 2010
Khondker Murshed E-Jahan
Abstract Fish contribute a significant amount of animal protein to the diets of people in Bangladesh, about 63% of which comes from aquatic animals. In Bangladesh, fish is mainly derived from two sources: capture and culture. Aquaculture has shown tremendous growth in the last two decades, exhibiting by about 10% average annual growth in production. Capture fisheries, although still the major source of supply of fish, have become static or are in decline due to over-fishing and environmental degradation, and it is now believed that aquaculture has the greatest potential to meet the growing demand for fish from the increasing population. At present, aquaculture production accounts for about one-third of the total fish production in Bangladesh. This paper examines the impact of an aquaculture development project in Bangladesh on food security, with particular emphasis on the poor. The analysis shows a positive impact of aquaculture development on employment, income and consumption. A number of implications for policy in areas that might strengthen these outcomes are discussed and recommendations are presented. [source]


Preliminary studies on the enhancement of storage time of chilled milt of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., using an extender containing the Tex-OE® heat shock-stimulating factor

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 4 2010
Jeanna Sandilands
Abstract Salmon milt was stored at ,4 °C using a normal extender and an extender with added Tex-OE® chaperone-stimulating factor. The study was repeated over two stripping seasons, with similar results. Milt receiving the extender with Tex-OE® was active at a usable level at least 30% longer in all cases. On the basis of these results, the technique has now also been used in commercial fish production with no observed change in the fertility of the milt. [source]


Decreasing trophic efficiency in cool-water aquaculture ponds: size-selective predation removes large prey

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 5 2009
Chelsea O Bennice
Abstract Maximizing young-of-year (YOY) fish production in an aquaculture setting depends on matching predatory demand with prey availability. With a size-selective YOY fish species (saugeye: Sander vitreus Mitchell females ×S. canadense Griffith & Smith males) supplied with natural zooplankton prey (Bosmina sp. Baird), selective removal of larger individuals may decrease prey fecundity. However, increased nutrient fertilization may also ameliorate the top-down effects of fish predation. We tested these interactions in outdoor earthen production ponds (ca. 4000 m2; n=12) by measuring Bosmina sp. size at first reproduction (SFR), maximum size (MAX) and neonate size (NEO) in ponds that varied in YOY saugeye densities (18,50 saugeye m,3) and also differed in phosphorus maintenance levels (either 20 or 30 ,g PO4 -P L,1). We found that SFR decreased by 8% [from 0.298 mm±0.007 (mean±1 SE) to 0.275 mm±0.005], MAX decreased by 11% (from 0.367 mm±0.009 to 0.328 mm±0.009) and NEO decreased by 5% (0.198 mm±0.004 to 0.189 mm±0.003) over the range of saugeye densities, and that SFR increased by 4% (from 0.279 mm±0.004 to 0.290 mm±0.003) and MAX increased by 3% (from 0.336 mm±0.004 to 0.347±0.004) with increased fertilization. Further, prey offspring lengths strongly related to mother lengths and lengths differed from early to late in the production season. These results indicate that multiple factors affect prey sizes and emphasize that the removal of large prey individuals by size-selective YOY predators may decrease trophic efficiency, ultimately decreasing fish production. [source]


Effects of common carp Cyprinus carpio (L.) and feed addition in rohu Labeo rohita (Hamilton) ponds on nutrient partitioning among fish, plankton and benthos

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 1 2008
Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman
Abstract The effects of introducing common carp (CC) and of adding artificial feed to fertilized rohu ponds on water quality and nutrient accumulation efficiency were studied. All ponds were stocked with 15 000 rohu ha,1. Treatments included ponds with rohu alone, rohu plus 5000 common carp ha,1 and rohu plus 10 000 CC ha,1. A comparison was also made between supplementally fed and non-fed ponds. The overall highest nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations were observed in ponds with 5000 CC ha,1, followed by ponds with 10 000 and 0 CC ha,1. The largest fractions of N and P inputs accumulating in fish, phytoplankton and zooplankton were observed in ponds with 5000 CC ha,1, followed by ponds with 10 000 CC ha,1 and subsequently ponds without CC. Relatively more nutrients accumulated in benthic organisms in ponds without than in ponds with CC. A smaller fraction of the nutrient input was retained in fish, plankton and benthic organisms in ponds without CC compared with ponds with CC. Compared with 5000 CC ha,1, stocking 10 000 CC ha,1 can be considered as overstocking, because this leads to lower fish production and relatively less nutrients retained in plankton and benthic organisms. [source]