Increased Production

Recently, increased production has been the easiest option for most expanding fish farms.

During the last 20 years, the avenue of increased production has been the simplest option for most aquaculture companies, particularly given the advances made in the productivity aspects of commercial aquaculture. While this has been the easiest objective for many farms to achieve, it has also resulted in market gluts and price crashes. If production expansion is not accompanied by full consideration of the needs of the company, combined with the effects on its markets, it can have catastrophic results for the business.

Questions

Can your existing markets absorb the increased production without a detrimental effect on prices?

Have you got or can you raise finance for the increased stocks that you must grow?

Are your personnel able to deal with increased production levels?

Is your farm equipped to deal with increased production levels?

Danger Point

If higher production is achieved but is accompanied by a lowering of the product quality, your market will diminish and may cease to exist. It is important to practise increasingly productive working methods which do not lower the quality of the final product. Increased production is only financially viable within the context of quality where performance achievements should be mirrored by quality improvements.

More productive working methods can be introduced with a number of methods:

• Regular operational reviews
• Training
• Automation
• Quality systems
• Cooperation with other farms

Training Checklist

Checklist for training provision aimed at improving production methods

• Forming an association/partnership with University or other research or development agency