Ineffectiveness of Water Circulation for Golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas Production in Ponds

Abstract— Continuous aeration at 0.5–0.9 kWha during summer months increasingly has become a baitfish industry practice, with aerators also serving as water circulators. Our study examined the impact of circulating pond water on golden shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas produced by typical commercial practices. Ponds (0.04-ha) were circulated with 0.25-kW pumps during two consecutive summers. In the first trial juvenile golden shiners were stocked at 282,800/ha and treatment ponds circulated from 0900–1600 h. In the second trial, stocking rate and daily hours of circulation were increased (800,600 fishha and 24 h, respectively). After 56 d (trial 1). gross yields (mean ± SE) were 771 ± 69 and 668 ± 44 kgha for control (uncirculated) and circulated ponds, respectively. Second trial gross yields (63 d) were 1,330 ± 70 and 1,177 ± 61 kgha for the control and circulated treatments, respectively. While circulated ponds showed a reduction in stratification based on temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles, there were no significant differences in golden shiner growth, yield or survival. Under the conditions of our trials, water circulation was an ineffective culture practice.