Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I've been googling around as to the legal status of catfish (Ameiurus nebulosus) in New Zealand, so far I can't find any reference to them being ilegal. The Dep of Conservation site lists them as having 'No status at present' http://www.doc.govt.nz/Conservation/002 ... Freshwater)/Catfish.asp

The Waikato Regional Council site says 'Brown bull-headed catfish have not yet been classed as noxious fish or unwanted organisms, however these options are being considered.'
http://www.ew.govt.nz/policyandplans/rp ... e6.3.3.htm

Could this be a possablity for a food fish for aquaponics in NZ?

Also Hi All

Welcome gypsymanz...
Looks like it is difficult to find fish there a there seems to be a far smaller base of fish to drow from (which you can eat and are compatable with aquaponics that is)

Aquaddict is also form NZ and has told us a lot about what he has found out about aquaponics in NZ... Try PM him and introduce yourself as he seems to have a wealth of info up his sleeve

Hi Gypsymanz

Hmm, I've been looking at those bullheads too. The scientists claim they've been in the Waitoa river (central Waikato) for 20 years but I was getting them out of there 32 years ago after a winters flood we'd find them and loads of carp eels etc in landlocked basins. Teeming with them!

I'd love to grow some out they are viable eating abroad so why not here?

Apparently Govt might be a bit cross eyed about that. In a hobby/home sized system I think you could grow some without copping too much flak. To farm a new species they need to be gazetted and for bullheads the verdict doesn't look good. Apparently they compete with some native species and are invasive etc etc

NZ's a hard place to go Aqua mad. I've got some Banded Kokopu from last years whitebait run and am going to grow out some Orando goldfish for the Auckland aquarium market as I can get them very big very fast in Aquaponics.

Farmable species are mostly confined to marine fish and most of those freshwater species we are allowed we know very little about farming.

But there's hope. A man has bred short fin eels successfully in captivity and can do it again so this ever dwindling naturally supplied market may well see a resurgence. Other species you can farm are koura (freshwater native crays) long finned eels, banded kokopu, short jawed kokopu, giant kokopu, koaro, inanga, several species of shrimp, and Mullet which must be at least 70mm in size before introduction to fresh water.

I don't have web favourites list where I am but will get you a link of the list of species allowed when I get home.

Welcome aboard nice to know I'm not the only kiwi into this stuff.

Hi Aquamad, thanks for the reply.

Hi Aquaddict, I know what you mean when you say 'NZ's a hard place to go Aqua mad.', I've run into the limitations many times over the years.

I hadn't thought of mullet as a possible food fish candidate, after soom brief research it looks do-able. Got any info on them ie. water quality needs, feeding, where and when to get them?

I had been looking at Koura as a NZ yabbies replacement, I have never tried to keep them before, but accidental inmates have showed good growth in aquarium especialy during the <40mm stage.

The Kuirau Park Aquarium in Rotorua used to have several bullhead cats and nobbody really seemed to care this was a few years ago now. I have never eaten one but as you say they are eaten widely over seas.

Good news on the eel front smoked or freash eels are good eating!

I have the allowed list of fish for aquaculture, and it is very limiting which is why I was looking in the legaly grey area. I think that in NZ as long as it isn't a designated ilegal fish then it should be ok on a hobby scale ie. non-comercial. Still I've got to be a little carefull around here as Rotorua has a lot of Trout fishing.

Here's a link with loads of info about Mullet you should be able to glean a few nuggets from it. I think another large problem in NZ is locating fingerlings that don't cost as much as an adult fish would anyway ie: Aquarium prices.

Mullet

A best friend of mine is the nephew of the scientist who bred eels, mullet, Kokopu... he's a whiz and wants to meet me at some stage which is promising.

Ken (the friend) has pumped him up with my Aqua trials and he loves the idea. Just have a bit of work to do yet in my yard system so I can show him the set up of three systems and discuss possible species for NZ conditions, food sources for carnivores, 100 other things... and possibly gazetting a decent species on my/our/aquaponics behalf.

Oh yes. I love the Rotorua Lakes District. I used to do comedy shows down there at the Pig 'n' Whistle touring a few likely lads and lasses around. We'd often stay on extra days and explore the place. Beautiful!

Rotorua is also cold, there was a good frost here this morning and our recorded low this year was -6C so I'm looking for something that can handle the cold.

How about wild collection of mullet?

Regarding your friends nephew, I wonder what species we could hope to have gazetted?
It would be nice to have an aquaponics food system going in my backyard.

Silver Perch is what I'd like gazetted. Read the thread here in this site, they are some promising fish.

With the NZ cold, I'm going for greenhousing ideas to acommodate a wider range of options (and unfortunately larger set up costs).

Silver Perch would be ideal, but knowing how these things go, I don't hold much hope.

Your right about greenhouses, I've built single and double skin greenhouses for various aqua projects over the years, its the only way I can see to get through winter. I have been dreaming up designs for greenhouses incorporating double skins and passive solar tech, hope to have a test aquaponics system run through summer and if succesful build a greenhouse in the autum.

Nice One.

I've been sidetracked a month with family stuff but that's going to be over in a few days and I can finish the greenhouse I started. Frames all up, plastic and most materials bought already.

Will start back on it end of the week and post some pics/update the thread I lost interest in...

Have the pond inside the greenhouse for thermal stability, a scoria floor for more stability (scoria being cheap it could be something else cheap) 2 reflective walls lined with pink batts, and pray for the best

That green house sounds awesome I will be sure to check out the pics

Any progress update on the silver perch, or other suitable edible fish for aquaponics in NZ?