Shadrack Kwadwo Amponsah*, Enoch Bessah, Sampson Agodzo, Helena Asare, Samuel Mensah Agyemang and Divine Dogbeda Azumah
This study comparatively assessed the technical and economic performance of two RAS designs for the culture of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus). A total of 1000 Catfish fingerlings each were stocked in circular tarpaulin lined ponds installed with respective RAS designs (old and new). Data on fish growth and pond water quality were collected on bi-weekly and weekly basis, respectively. Pond water pH, temperature, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) were 6.30° C-6.60° C, 30.0° C-30.1° C, 144.1 mg/L-192.4 mg/L and 6.23 mg/L-6.47 mg/L for old and new RAS design, respectively. The new RAS design offered significantly favorable conditions than the old design, though both were within acceptable limits. Fish weight and length gain generally increased with increasing growth period (0-20 weeks) ranging from 4.85 g-687.45 g and 1.72 cm-35.21 cm, and 8.17 g-770.38 g and 6.04 cm-39.64 cm for old and new RAS designs, respectively. Significantly higher survival rate was recorded for new RAS design compared to the old. No significant difference was observed for Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) and Specific Growth Rate (SGR) which ranged from 1.39 g/d to 1.39 g/d and 1.26 g/d to 1.30 g/d for old and new RAS designs, respectively. The newly designed RAS setup is more productive for catfish culture from an economic perspective with BCR of 1.20. Promotion and proper adoption of such RAS aquaculture technologies to boost urban and rural fish production could significantly impact the aquaculture sector
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