Abstract:
With response to the Government policy in the promotion of coastal aquaculture, Department of Fisheries has given a very high priority in the fish propagation technique development particularly on sea bass culture, Based on the success in artificial fertilization of sea bass in hatchery, Department of Fisheries is now being able to control the mass production of sea bass seed. Nursing such seed to be fish fingerling, however, is still far behind current demand. Therefore, the Government needs the cooperation from the private sector to carry out fish nursery to cope with the increasing demand for fish fingerling. This thesis aims to investigate the cost of sea bass seed nursery in cement pond by private sector in 1982. A moderate size farm located in Amphoe Sriracha of Chamgwat Chonburi is selected as study sample. Primary data were obtained from farm record as well as from interviewing farm operators, government officials and fish farmers, while secondary data were obtained from literature review. Special emphasis was given on the analysis of capital invested both initially and currently, cost and return on investment and problems encountered. The information obtained would be an essential information for policy makers and those who wish to enter into the sea bass nursery industry. The study revealed that the maximum farm capacity of nursing 200,000 fish seed per batch up to fingerling size required a total initial capital investment of 947,969 Baht, or at the current price of 1,151,197 Baht. Nursing fish seed can be operated all year round starting from March. The farm usually nurses the newly hatched seed into artemia, tamarind, centimetre and fingerling sizes. Time required in nursing into above-mentioned sizes are 15, 20, 30 and 45 days respectively. However, during the period from June 16 to August 31, 1982, government hatcheries stopped supplying fish seed to private farms. The farm under the study therefore had to nurse the fish up to 2, 3 and 4 inches. The production cost analysis of fish seed per 100 heads of various sizes as mentioned above are 39„46, 84.52 and 149.04 Baht for the first group, up to 45 days, and 244.96, 368.06 and 589.65 Baht for the second group, up to 4 inches, respectively. The comparative study of the optimal nursing size revealed that fish fingerling of 2 inches yielded the highest return of 40.60%. However, the risk was also relatively high. The nursing of fish during the latter period starting from September was unsatisfactory due to the unfavourable environment that resulted in a very low survival rate. The major problems encountered are water quality; fish diseases and Government policy that directly affects farmers. Toresolve these problems, it is recommended that: 1) Farm location is a very important matter. The most ideal farm should be located in the area where adequate clean fresh water and sea water supply are available throughout the production period. Besides, it is important to have a water reservoir in the farm to stock water for use when required. 2) The Government should assist and support farmers on technical know-how such as on fish disease prevention and cure; water pollution control; etc. 3) To ensure the continuous participation of farmers in sea bass seed nursery, the Government should have a clear and precise policy in supplying fish seed to the private sector. The Government should inform all parties concerned on any changes in such policy far in advance in order to allow them to have sufficient time to diversify or to adjust their farm activities.