Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

All great ideas rassd71.....

Just be sure that you cost ALL your setup and ongoing costs into your spreadsheets to do your break even analysis properly......

You may find that the initial set up costs and ongoing costs relating to power, processing, handling and storage/display etc of managing a retail outlet mean little or no return for several years.... let alone the cost of any staff....

Hope this makes sense-
Looking in the US they seem only able to produce 60c a pound($1.50 kg) as raw F/gate profits, with a retail of 9-12$s lb. (22.50-28.00Kg)Aprox
Value add is the go, as you say Rup, the set up costs are enormous, can't be going into debt for this!
The number of hands elevate the cost:
If you own the property, building and infrastructure, no debt to service
Growout the fish = farm gate sales flow on = Sell meals = value add
Veg sales and savings plus Health!
process the fish = value add ( fillets or smoking for eg)
market the fish = cost add
transport the fish = cost add

The price of fresh food will increase considerably in the next few yrs.
I predict we will have a new blitz on pre-prepared meals (TV dinners)
the ingredients of which we will have no idea about the origin of!

The greater the market mix the better the chances are of success...
...rant over..
C1

As far as Viability, IMHO AP can be viable (anything can be, you just need to be able to find the right market and be able to exploit it.)

One of the earlier posts talked about the idea of an AP restaurant. The biggest problem I saw from the writers proposal was the dependence upon hired staff to make the operation work. While I know that a couple or even two couples can not do everything that would be required to make a business successful, the biggest issue is consistency in product and service, and often this isn't possible when too many people are involved. If an individual wants to have a successful AP business they must have a clear vision of what they are wanting to accomplish and the ability to relegate duties when necessary, but the intelligence and commitment to oversee the entire operation.

The biggest hurdle in selling processed seafood in the U.S. are the FDA requirements for a seafood processing facility. The investment is staggering. My personal marketing plan is to sell live and direct. Sell directly to markets and restaurants. Another market for the fishey side of the farm is actually the aquarium and pet trade. I know a few people that breed and sell crayfish, both online through aquabid.com and to local pet stores. The price per pound is much better, however in much smaller volume. But for what a lot of the members here are looking at, it may be a really good option.

Hubby and I are in the final process of getting our Sydney home ready for market, and we are then looking for a property in the Ballina/Lismore/Byron area. What we are hoping to do is get a property with an income stream already in place - for example an orchard.

We then plan to invest in a small aquaponics system so we can research the viability of aquaponics as a commercial venture. Of course it will also give us time to learn the ropes. What we are hoping to do is start small, selling any vegetable produce via local farmers markets. As it gets bigger we hope to sell to local businesses under contract.

Raising and selling the fish is a harder prospect because of all the licencing requirements, but the NSW Department of Primary Industries has a very extensive website detailing what is required.

But realistically the vegetable side of aquaponics is always going to be the main income stream.

I think that the key for a aquaponics enterprise would be to tap into the organic market with its juicy premiums. The organic market keeps growing but so far since *in the US at least* there are no official rules for organic aquaculture there are only a couple of aquaculture operations that label as organic. They raise shrimp I think. Key to future organic certification will almost certainly be the necessity not discharge nutrient laden water as many aquaculture operations do. This is precisely where aquaponics excels.

The other key is of course organic feed. This is more complicated by the fact that most fish feed contains fish meal and fish oil. So the organic feed supply will probably have to start with a herbivorous fish, like tilapia or certain types of carp, raised under organic conditions and fed a vegan diet. From here the fish meal to supply other organic aquaculters could be almost as lucrative and selling fish for human consumption.

For the new organic aquaculture entrepreneur formulating their own feed will almost certainly be essential.

*pardon the rambling

F O F- no ramble, valid points!

iv'e been thinking about viability of an ap based business.

i think the key is to produce as much of the fish food yourself in conjunction with the system. growing things like worms, lupins, grains, alqae, zooplankton ect. if you can use the waste of the fish to grow these then i think the returns will be a lot higher. the number one outgoing expense in aquaculture is feed. of course organic if you can do this organically thats another huge bonus.

i think you also need to look as ap as a long term venture. its not one of those get rich schemes that were sold by unqualified consultants in the aquaculture industry in the late 90's. i feel that unless start up capital is huge, you would need many years to make any real profit. i would imagine that if you could setup a profitable system your main returns would come from selling the business operation. much like a permaculture operation. of course you need land and with the prices these days you would still need to work a full time job.

Very valid point about capitolization of the project. I think that for most people just wanting to get into the AP business it might be a situation of working on a twenty year plan rather than the more conventional 5 year one. (The business is expected to be profitable in 5 years.) The main reason I am saying this is due to the costs of set up and the probable willingness of most conventional lenders to work with an AP start up business. (Especially in view of the recent Aquaculture situation.) So, for most start ups they may need to look at the whole situation as a hobby or experiment at first with a vision of expansion over time as experience and capitol is secured.

Kevin

Is anyone harvesting the Asian Carp from the rivers it infests and mincing it up for fish food?

I intend to find out if AP is commercially viable in Alaska. I'm going to test the market with real products -- as soon as I get some real products to market.

My brother has a horticulture business and he tested a fertilizer made from culled asian carp from the Murray. Unfortunately he came to the conclusion that it wasn't great for domestic use because it stank. And when he says 'stank' remember this is a guy who lives with manure and fertilizer all the time. He tested it on his own garden and the neighbour two doors down complained.

Anyone have any idea what would be required to turn carp into aquaculture food?

A meat grinder? Maybe a little flour to help paste it together? Then a spaghetti extruder? And an understanding spouse?

One concern I have with the eco-tourism idea is that it provides a steady stream of potential contaminators / saboteurs through the operation. Tom Spereano said that visitors tossed all sorts of things into his sumps -- coins, candy wrappers, bags...

I have the understanding (even enthusiastic) spouse. Its getting the carp caught and transported to the farm door that might be the problem. Maybe the murray carp lady might be interested in a sideline business when the time is right.