(a) Semi-intensive and integrated lagoon farming

Semi-intensive farming is based on improved management of the lagoons. The construction of wintering ditches that act as a refuge in case of excessive cooling of surface water and the supply of food to improve growth are the main techniques employed.

Most of the Italian ’valli’ are semi-intensive integrated systems, where extensive eel and  mullet production exploits the nutrients released by intensive  seabass and/or eel tanks and semi-intensive or intensive sea bream  ponds.

(b) Semi-intensive carp farming

This form of aquaculture is characterised by resorting to egg incubation, hatching and larval rearing in controlled facilities to produce juvenile fish that are stocked in ponds, and the provision of some food supply, allowing higher stocking density in the ponds.  These improvements of extensive techniques are also widely used for the production of several freshwater fish species like tench, roach, pike and perch, mostly sold for restocking sport fishing ponds or rivers.