Aquaponics PilotUPPER FRASER INDIGENOUS SUSTAINABLE HARVESTERS ASSOCIATION

Presented by Kelsey Campbell, UFFCA FNFC Fall Assembly - Nov 6, 2019

U P P E R F R A S E R I N D I G E N O U S S U S TA I N A B L E H A RV E S TE R S A S S O C I AT I ON

Presentation Outline

What is Aquaponics?

The Aquaponic Nutrient Cycle

Basic System Components

Techniques

What can we grow?

Scale and Application

UFISH Aquaponics

Example Yield

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• System that combines the growing of fish and plants

• Integration of aquaculture (fish) and hydroponics (plants w/o soil) – both lose water and nutrients

• Complete cycle of symbiotic relationships with the only water loss in evaporation transpiration by plants

• Sustainable, localized, environmentally friendly approach to growing food

What is Aquaponics?

U P P E R F R A S E R I N D I G E N O U S S U S TA I N A B L E H A RV E S TE R S A S S O C I AT I ON

Fish produce ammonia-rich waste

Naturally occurring bacteria converts ammonia into nitrites

Bacteria convert nitrites to nitrates

Plants absorb nitrates as nutrients through roots suspended in the water

Ammonia-free water back to fish tank

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Basic System Components

Fish tank

Swirl

Solid waste composting

Biofiltration

Sump

Plant grow beds

• Infrastructure• Heating/cooling• Oxygen• Water

U P P E R F R A S E R I N D I G E N O U S S U S TA I N A B L E H A RV E S TE R S A S S O C I AT I ON

Techniques

Media Raft Tower

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What can we grow?

Fish• Catfish• Tilapia• Koi• Perch• Trout• Bass…to name a few

Considerations• Best to grow hardy fish that are

adaptable and/or native to the area• Market value• Growth rate

Plants (depends on technique)• Leafy greens (lettuce, spinach, kale)• Tomatoes• Beans• Celery• Cilantro and other herbs…to name a few

Considerations• Market value• Space efficiency• Growth rate

U P P E R F R A S E R I N D I G E N O U S S U S TA I N A B L E H A RV E S TE R S A S S O C I AT I ON

Scale and Application

Backyard

Commercial

U P P E R F R A S E R I N D I G E N O U S S U S TA I N A B L E H A RV E S TE R S A S S O C I AT I ON

UFISH Aquaponics

Project started 2019

• Funding was secured for first phase

• Permitting and infrastructure

• Materials and early project design

900sqft greenhouse

U P P E R F R A S E R I N D I G E N O U S S U S TA I N A B L E H A RV E S TE R S A S S O C I AT I ON

Fish tank250 gal

Media 5m2

Media 5m2

Media 5m2

Media 5m2Sump tank (below)

Header tank (above)

Raft bed 10m2

Raft bed 10m2

Swirl

Fish tank250 gal

(air added)

(air added)

(air added) (air added)

Gravity flow in Gravity flow out Pumped

(Stand alone, valve operated)

UFISH Aquaponics

U P P E R F R A S E R I N D I G E N O U S S U S TA I N A B L E H A RV E S TE R S A S S O C I AT I ON

UFISH Application

UFFCA Application

• Pilot project

• Research and study

• Tours and education

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Golden Ratio of Aquaponics

Gf/m2/DayGf – Grams of feedM2 – growing area

Example Yield

Lettuce

20 lettuce/m2/month x 40m2 = 500 lettuce/month or 6000 lettuce/year

Trout

40 m2 of growing area x 30g fish feed = 1200g fish feed

Total fish feed needed for 40 m2 growing area = 1.2kg fish feed

If the feed rate for a grower sized trout is 1.3% body weight the calculation for the biomass of fish needed is:

1.2kg / 0.013 = 92 kg of fish

U P P E R F R A S E R I N D I G E N O U S S U S TA I N A B L E H A RV E S TE R S A S S O C I AT I ON

To come in 2020

• Finalization of design

• Construction

• Secure funding for additional materials

• Secure funding and installation of solar heating system

• Trial and error

• Training

• Stay tuned…

Thank you

UPPER FRASER INDIGENOUS SUSTAINABLE HARVESTERS ASSOCIATION

AcknowledgementsWilliams Lake Indian Band

Northern Shuswap Tribal CouncilSprung Structures

ARK FNFC