Heritage Cases

Aquaculture is the farming of fish, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic plants, algae, and other aquatic organisms. Growing public demand for a healthy tasty and affordable food is stimulating the industry. The decline in wild fish populations as a result of overharvest and water pollution has promoted the culture of farm-fresh that are grown in contaminant-free waters in indoor tank systems. The Kedake Resources Ltd (Pty) is a start-up company envisioned to establish a medium size aquaculture facility that will produce 60 tons of Nile Tilapia at a commercial scale. Nile Tilapia will be grown over 180 days per six months cycle. The fish will be stocked in the fish rearing tanks and then the fish waste (faeces and uneaten food) flows into the settling tank, the process of biofiltration result in the conversion of toxic ammonia into plant friendly nitrates before the nitrate rich water is sold to Non-profit organisation to irrigate their plants. The proposed facility triggers the water use Act as the facility will use approximately 20m3 per annum in the leased 10ha (figure 1) of land from Mr Imraan Nana in Plot 19 Klipview Midvaal Local Municipality Meyerton-Gauteng Province. The lease agreement includes the utilisation of a two boreholes on site. The first borehole is 55 metres 3000l/hr whereas the second borehole is 67 metres capacity 14001/hr. This aquaculture farm water will be sourced from the existing boreholes on site were thirty fish tanks (250 litters) will be installed on site. Each Fish tank will be pumped with 200 litres of water per week. Four waste water tank five 5000 litter 2700 mm (Diameter and 12200 mm height) will be installed for the storage of waste water. The effluent produced on site will be used to irrigate vegetable gardens. The technology that will be employed on the farm is recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS).