Aquaculture Enterprise Development Program (AEP)

The Aquaculture Enterprise Development program offers two training courses. The 6-month Certificate in Aquaculture Operations trains people to become proficient in the technical aspects of aquaculture operation. This is in contrast to the 3-month Certificate in Aquaculture Entrepreneurship which provides graduates the means to start and operate aquaculture enterprises.

The 3-month program provides students the skills and the operational assets to start and operate thriving fish farmers. The program is designed to provide the necessary grounding for new entrants to go from absolute novices to confident commercial aquaculturists. It is also very helpful to current or aspiring owners of aquaculture operations who are seeking to expand their enterprises.  

The 6-month program is more suited for individuals who work (or seek to work) in aquaculture operations and are looking to improve their skills, or individuals who are seeking technical mastery of aquaculture operations. It is designed to improve the technical and operational proficiency of aquaculture employees and practitioners. 

The details of the two programs are described below.

This course assumes NO knowledge of aquaculture on the part of registrants, beyond the interest and desire to explore aquaculture. The course is designed to train participants to become competent aquaculture technicians. In addition, the course does provide ample opportunity for participants who have some experience to enhance their fundamental understanding and technical capabilities.

Incoming students are expected to have a minimum of a high school education (or equivalent) with a working grasp of basic mathematics and proper writing skills. This is necessary to enable students to complete the writing and basic calculations involved in the program.

The outline for the Aquaculture Operations program is shown below:

Introduction To Fish Farming

• Objectives of aquaculture
• Importance of aquaculture
• Types of aquaculture

Site Selection  for Aquaculture

• Factors to be considered in selecting a site for a fish farm
• Selection of services and infrastructure for a fish farm

Pond Stocking

• Selection of fish for stocking
• Transportation of fish
• Time/Stocking rate

Fish Feed & Feeding

• Types of feed in aquaculture
• Fish size and feed size
• Feeding frequency and feeding rate

Water Quality Management

• Water quality parameters
• Water quality measurement
• Instrumentation and control in water quality measurement

Fish Diseases & Prevention

• Types and causes of fish diseases
• Prevention and control of fish diseases
• Medication and substance control in fish farm environments

Fish Farm Economics

• Marketing of fish
• Economic analysis of fish farms
• Economic modeling of the aquaculture enterprise

 The Aquaculture Enterprise program is for those who wish to run a fish farm as a business. It assumes NO knowledge of aquaculture on the part of registrants beyond the interest and desire to be a successful aquaculture entrepreneur.

The course starts with each registrant being given a Fish-Farm-In-A-Box^[TM](FFBX). The FFBX was developed by Aquada Development Corporation and is literally a fish farm in a box. It contains everything (except the fingerlings) needed to start a fish farm in one’s home or backyard or small space.

The FFBX provides the template for a fast-paced training experience from absolute novice to confident fish farm operator. Students start their training experience by setting up their individual fish farms in a box. Each student receives the FFBX at the beginning of the course and begins setting up their business enterprise from the end of that first week.

The course fee includes the FFBX itself (shipping charges not included) which includes 1000 fingerlings and everything else needed to set up the fish farm (except for access to running water which students have to provide in their residence or intended place of installation). To that end, as students get into class, they begin their aquaculture enterprise from the first day. They learn as their fish (and the associated needs) grow. Students learn from highly experienced instructors and also share experiences as a cohort. These shared experiences serve the students during and upon completion of the course.

The Aquaculture Enterprise Program is designed to enable incoming students graduate as practicing aquaculture entrepreneurs. The program is intense as it drives students to develop the practical and critical skills they need to successful. The major topics covered in the course are as follows:

Introduction To Fish Farming:

As indicated earlier, the program does not assume prior knowledge or familiarity with aquaculture. In this introductory segment, participants will get a general overview of the art and science of fish farming, with a particular emphasis on the types of fish that are commercially viable in different markets. The course also addresses the critical considerations associated with aquaculture as a life science practice, and the various avenues for use of fish once fully grown.

Students will also get an up-close look at the various life stages  in the fish lifecycle from fries to table fish. This segment will also introduce value-added products that can be derived from a base stock of table fish and the various markets to this which those products can be sold.

 Site Selection For Aquaculture:

Aquaculture is  a life science. Practice. Fries need conducive environments to grow into fingerlings and eventually to table fish. In this segment, students will learn the various environmental factors that affect the growth of fish at various stages, and how these factors can be enhanced (where desirable) or mitigated (when deleterious) so as to reduce mortality and increase overall feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the fish. These factors must be balanced against concerns for the security of the installation especially as the stock matures.

Furthermore, the potential expansion needs of the enterprise must be taken into consideration at the early stage to minimize subsequent movement of the growing fish (due to unanticipated relocation). This also helps to optimize the labor required to care for the fish stock. Students will learn how the FFBX is designed and the various environmental factors that influenced its design features. Students will also learn how to select the optimal site (available to them at the time at their intended location) for the siting of their pondacles. Students are encouraged to send photographs of their intended locations (if available) so they get hands-on support in their early decision-making regarding site selection.

Pond Preparation:

At the very early stages of their life (just like humans), fries are very sensitive to the presence of small amounts of contaminants, chemicals and other environmental pathogens. Ponds have to be cleaned thoroughly—and properly— prior to the introduction of a growing fish population. In this part of the course, students will learn what these potential threats are and how to properly prepare a pond to realize favorable growth outcomes for the stock.

This includes the selection of cleaning agents, methods and duration for cleaning, and other techniques required to create the suitable environment in the pond for growth of inhabitant life forms. The failure to do this  properly can result in mass casualty events for the fish stock. These critical skills will be learned in this segment of the course.

Pond Stocking:

Aquaculture is an economic endeavor. To that end, there are competing pressures between the need to minimize capital requirements (by reducing space dedicated to the growth of the fish) and the need to maximize the growth of the fish (which is the basis for pricing and the expected returns from fish sales). There is an intricate balance between cost and growth potential.

This segment of the course will help students determine when and how to evaluate the space requirements of their growing lifeforms and how to ensure the comfort of their fish while minimizing cost. Where feasible, students will participate in the stocking of a pond so they get a tactile sense of the process.

Fish Feed & Feeding:

This is perhaps the most angst-ridden issue for aquaculture entrepreneurs. The ever-rising cost of fish feed can, and in many cases, has driven entrepreneurs out of business. This aspect of aquaculture presents a particular vulnerability for fish farmers because a lot of the feed used in the country is imported and with eroding exchange rates, fish feed costs rise at rates far in excess of inflation. On occasion, suitable fish feed is simply unavailable.

In this segment of the course, student will gain a fundamental understanding of the feeding requirements of fish (at various stages of development) and how different feeds in the market address those needs. The goal is NOT for students to formulate their own feed (since that would require several years of specialized training) but instead for them to become confident and knowledgeable in the selection of appropriate feed for their stock. 

Students will also learn how to improvise for limited periods or in cases of emergencies to sustain their stock. Questions around fish feed selection will be addressed extensively here.

Pond Management & Maintenance:

The continued development of fish in a pond environment requires proper management and maintenance. In this segment of the course, participants will learn how to think about their ponds, how to visually evaluate the health of the aquatic environment, and how to document the state of the aquatic environment.

They will also be introduced to basic equipment and instruments used to measure important parameters relating to the pond environment and aquatic wellbeing. Students will be expected to practice the use of these instruments and probes so as to understand their appropriate application.

Fish Diseases & Prevention:

Recognizing that fish are living organisms, even under the best of circumstances they may be  susceptible to disease and other forms of pestilence. In this segment, participants will be introduced to the most common forms of disease found in local fish (particularly catfish), how some of them can be identified by visual or behavioral observation, and how to treat some of those diseases.

Beyond the types and treatment of disease, this segment will emphasize practices and techniques to minimize the occurrence of these diseases in the first place. Students will be expected to able to visually identify the symptoms of some basic diseases by the end of this segment and have the confidence to intervene where appropriate.

 Water Quality Management:

This is the second most important variable that can affect the growth of fish (after the selection of appropriate feed). Even with good feed, poor water quality conditions can lead to high mortality of fish stock. In this segment, participants will focus on water as both a habitat and a nutrient for the fish. Participants will learn how to conduct basic tests on water, evaluate its quality, and inculcate the discipline around proper water quality management.

 Fish Harvesting:

The goal of the aquaculture enterprise is to grow fish to a suitable size and sell it in a timely manner. This segment will teach participants the proper techniques for harvesting of fish and the critical considerations that apply in the handling of fish at this more mature stage of their development. The timing of fish harvesting is also tied to the intended end use of the fish. This segment will also cover the various points in the lifecycle at which harvesting may be more suitable for different end uses.

 Aquaculture Records Management:

This is a business under development. Records are critical for both the economic and aquatic wellbeing of the enterprise. This segment will teach participants what records to keep and how to analyze that information to support decision making in the enterprise (such as the optimal time for harvesting or timing of feeding). The use of the Aquada FFBX App for Android^[TM] tablets will also be introduced.

 Fish Farm Economics

The records discussed in the preceding section provide a firm basis for the discussion of fish farm economics in this segment. The goal is to understand what drives profit and loss in aquaculture enterprise and what the critical risk factors are. This segment will raise the awareness amongst participants on what make or break their fledgling enterprises and to ensure that they keep a hawkish eye on these factors by maintaining appropriate records and ensuring good aquaculture practices across their entire operation.

Introduction To Fish Farming

• Objectives of aquaculture
• Importance of aquaculture
• Types of aquaculture

Site Selection  for Aquaculture

• Factors to be considered in selecting a site for a fish farm

Pond Preparation

• Fundamentals of fish culture facilities
• Pond conditioning (pond cleaning/clearing)
• Lining and fertilization of ponds
• Practicum on conditioning of ponds

>> Delivery of FFBX to participants

Pond Stocking

• Selection of fish for stocking
• Transportation of fish
• Time/Stocking rate
• Acclimatization of fish in a pond
• First feeding/fish behavior

Fish Feed & Feeding

• Types of feed in aquaculture
• On-farm fish feed formulation
• Fish size and feed size
• Feeding frequency and feeding rate
• Practicum on feed identification and selection

>> Delivery of fingerlings (fish seed) and feed to trainees

Pond Management & Maintenance

• Pond desilting
• Weeding & GMP
• Sorting of fish
• Use of instruments in pond management
• Practicum in fish sorting and management

Fish Diseases & Prevention

• Types and causes of fish diseases
• Prevention and control of fish diseases

Water Quality Management

• Water quality parameters
• Water quality measurement, instrumentation and control

Fish Harvesting

• Factors to be considered in harvesting of fish
• Fishing gear/implements/tools
• Fish processing and storage
• Restocking of fish

 Record Keeping in Aquaculture

• Importance of record keeping in fish farming
• Kinds of record keeping in aquaculture
• Data analysis & decision making

Fish Farm Economics

• Marketing of fish
• Economic analysis of fish farms
• Economic modeling of the aquaculture enterprise

>> Delivery of grow-out fish feed

Classes are held weekly in LIVE, interactive online sessions led by highly experienced practitioners and trainers. Classes are scheduled for evenings and weekends to accommodate working professionals. Students are assigned to cohorts based on a balance between availability in a given cohort and indicated preference of students during the application process.

• Training cohorts typically start the first (working) Monday of every quarter (January, April, July and October).
• Registration for new cohorts closes 1 month in advance of the start date. (For instance, students who want to participate in a  program starting in January need to be registered by the end of November.) This is to ensure proper planning and management of cohort sizes.
• Classes typically meet online twice a week; registered students have access to study and test material on the online platform every day of the week.
• Special classes for organizations, groups or associations may be arranged outside of this standing schedule. (For group schedules, send email to )

 The costs of the Certificate program and the Diploma program are shown below.