ABSTRACT
The source of most primary productivity in fish ponds, phytoplankton converts solar energy into chemical energy through the process of photosynthesis. This chemical energy is consumed by fish and other aquatic organisms, and in this way the productivity of phytoplankton influences a pond’s natural potential for fish production. This chapter demonstrates that short measurements of primary productivity can be used to predict fish production. It examines the relationship between primary productivity and fish production, and uses primary productivity as the indicator to predict levels of fish production. A highly predictive equation was developed between gross primary productivity measured for two hours after maximum illumination, and total daily primary productivity. The type of species, their relative proportion, the degree of organic loading to the pond, and the use of direct fish feeds are all factors which affect fish production in intensively culture fish ponds, in addition to the rate of primary productivity.
