The Present Status of Fish Farm in Floating Cages at Thi-Qar Governorate

Abstract

A field survey has been conducted for number of floating cages fish farms in 2016 at Thi-Qar Governorate. During a field visits for fish farms, we have distributed a survey forms, results of the survey showed that the number of fish breeding farms in cages in Thi-Qar Governorate reached 22 licensed farms included 458 cages were distributed on 7 districts. Highest number of cages was at Refayi District (164 cages) (41.20 %) of total number, and lowest number was at Shatra District (10 cages) (2.51 %) of total number. Farmed area of cages amounted 5926 m², and total size 12637 m³, the highest of them were at Qalaat Cikar District (surface area = 2288 m², 38 %; size = 5056 m³ 40 %), while the lowest were at Shatra District (surface area = 120 m², 2.05 %; size = 240 m³ 1.89 %). Hilla’s Farms were the most sources of providing small fishes of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) for fish farms and floating cages in Thi-Qar Governorate, where farms of Suqal shuyukh District, Refayi District, Bathaa District and Al-Nasur District were 100 % depend on Hilla’s farms. Mechanical method was the common method for feeding the farmed fish in most of Districts in the Governorate. Farmed fish rates in floating cages ranged between 200-150 g in most of the districts of the Governorate while fish marketing rates have ranged between 1.000 g - 1800 g. Duration of breeding period was ranged between 7-9 months in most of districts. Fish farming rates were convergent in all districts and ranged between 39-52 fish/m³, while the overall rate in the Governorate was 40 fish /m³