LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO STATE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY IN LIVELIHOOD EDUCATION

Title: AFA 6 (Aquaculture)

COURSE CODE : AFA 6

COURSE TITLE : Aquaculture
CLASS SCHEDULE : TF (5:30-7:30PM) & Sat. (1:00-4:00pm)
INSTRUCTOR : JAMES D. MALDA
MODULE NO. : MODULE 3
MODULE TITLE : PREPARING AND MAINTAINING AQUACULTURE FACILITIES
Lesson 6 : Fishpond Layout and Design
TIME FRAME : 1 week

INTRODUCTION:

Fishpond is an artificial body of water surrounded by dikes and with accessories such as gates,
pipes and canals to facilitate water supply management. In view of the high cost of fishpond development,
the layout of improved types of fishponds, and the specifications for different pond designs must be simple
and functional. The nature of compartments or units of a fishpond project is dependent upon the nature and
quality of water supply and the species of fish to be cultivated.

In this module, you will learn more about fishpond layout and design.

OBJECTIVES: In this lesson, learners will be able to:

 Determine the common units of a fishpond;
 Share the importance of fish culture in pond;
 Draw a layout of a fishpond.

PRE-TEST:

Before going through the lesson, answer the pre-test to enable you to find out what you already
know and what you still need to know in this module.

Choose Me Right!

Directions: Select the best answer and write the letter of your choice on the space provided before the
number.

____1. Why are fishpond layouts drawn to scale?

a. To lessen labor exerted in the construction.
b. To show the layout in a smaller space.
c. To show all the compartment units of a fishpond project.
d. To display the common accessory units of a fishpond.

____2. Which of the following fishpond facilities control the water of the pond system?
a. Main gate c. Tertiary gate
b. Secondary gate d. All of the above

____3. What type of fishpond layout that has one sluice gate and long water supply canal
which supplies the different compartment?
a. Conventional c. Progressive
b. Radiating d. Specialize

____4. What fishpond unit is intended for rearing fingerlings to marketable size?

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a. Transition pond c. Rearing pond
b. Nursery pond d. Brood pond

____5. Which among the fishpond units is used as water reservoir?

a. Head pond c. Rearing pond
b. Catching pond d. Transition pond

____6. Which is intended for the confinement of breeders?

a. Breeding pond c. Head pond
b. Rearing pond d. Hatching pond

____7. What common accessory unit of a fishpond controls the water in the pond system?
a. Secondary gate c. Tertiary gate
b. Main gate d. Water supply canal

____8. In brackish water fishpond, where should fingerlings be acclimatized?

a. Transition pond c. Catching pond
b. Rearing pond d. Nursery pond

____9. What is the biggest and highest block of earth that surrounds the entire pond system?
a. Main dike c. Tertiary gate
b. Secondary gate d. Main gate

____10. The following are the advantages of pond layout, except.

a. easy control of pond water
b. low productivity
c. artificial feeding can be conducted easily
d. easy eradication of fish pest and predator.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES (to include Content/Discussion of the Topic):

Fishpond Layout and Design

A fishpond is said to be properly designed when the arrangement of the pond

compartments, water control structures and all other facilities mutually harmonize each other
giving the most efficient water management and manipulation of stock.

A buffer zone of at least 100 meters from the sea to the main peripheral dike or 20 meters
along river banks should be left undisturbed for ecological reasons and physical protection from
flooding and wave action.

The main gate should be placed at one side of the pond where fresh unpolluted sea or
brackishwater is available during spring tides. If possible another main gate should be allotted in
areas accessible to low saline rivers for better control of salinity during summer months. The main
gate should be located preferably at a straight stretch of the stream and should not be located at
the corner of the dike, nor facing the open sea. Secondary and tertiary gates are located on the
shorter side of the pond, preferably near the corner, to provide a much better circulation of water
within the pond as tide water is let in. If drainage channels are provided, outlet gates draining to
these channels will be placed at corners diagonally opposite the inlet gates.

In areas where the water supply is heavily laden with silt or mud, it may be necessary to
provide a settling pond.

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Whenever possible the longer dikes should be parallel to the direction of the prevailing
winds so that there is less damage on dike due to wave action.

If necessary, diversion canals placed more or less perpendicular to direction of run-off or

flood flow should be provided and they should be large enough to carry surface run-off during
times of flood. This canal should be as short as possible and discharge to the nearest stream or
channel.

Fishpond Lay Out

A one hectare lay out of a conventional pond system with the following
specifications:

Area = 10,000 m2

Nursery Pond (NP) = 1% of the total production area

Transition Pond (TP) = 9% of the production area

Rearing Pond (RP) = 80% of the production area

Catching Pond (CP) = At least 2% of the NP

NP = 10,000 x 1%
= 10,000 x 0.01
= 100 m2

RP = 10,000 x 80%
= 10,000 x 0.80
= 8,000 m2

CP = 10,000 x 2%
= 10,000 x 0.02
= 2 m2

Figure 1. Conventional Pond System

After the proposed fishpond site is thoroughly examined and selected based on the
required factors for pond selection, the following are the different compartment units, and the
common accessories of the pond systems which are to be considered in making the layout plan.

Common Units of a Fishpond

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Figure 2. Transition Pond Figure 3. Rearing Pond

Figure 4. Catching Pond Figure 5. Supply Canal

1. Nursery pond (NP) – for the rearing of fish fry to fingerlings size. The most suitable place is
where it can be easily supplied with fresh, unpolluted water all the time and at elevation where it
can be readily drained even during ordinary low tide. The size of the NP depends primarily on the
fingerling requirements of the rearing ponds based on the maximum yearly targeted production.

2. Transition pond (TP) - for the storage or acclimatization of fingerlings. It is located adjacent to
the nursery pond in order to have an effective and easy transfer of fry. Its pond bottom is
constructed a little bit lower than that of the nursery pond.

3. Rearing pond (RP) – for raising fingerlings up to marketable size. It is the largest compartment
in the pond system.

4. Breeding pond – for confining breeders.

5. Hatching pond – for depositing eggs until these are hatched.

6. Catching pond (CP) – for confining and catching fry, fingerlings and fish of marketable size. It
is constructed at the gate inside the pond where it is intended to be used.

7. Head pond – for storing reserve water.

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8. Feed pond – for producing food such as lab-lab, lumut or plankton. In fishpond areas where
natural foods not grow well and supplementary feeding is necessary, one of the RP‘s or NP‘s
could be utilized as a feed pond. It should be a separate compartment ideally located near the
pond where supplementary feeding is intended.

9. Water supply canal – for supplying water to the different compartments.

Common Accessory Units of a Fishpond and their Functions

1. Main gate. A wooden or concrete structure that controls water in the pond system.

2. Secondary gate. Controls the incoming and outgoing water in the different pond units.

3. Tertiary gates or pipes. Controls the incoming and outgoing water in the smaller
compartments of the pond system.

4. Main/perimeter dike. Surrounds the entire pond system to ensure protection and safety of the
stocks. It is composed of the biggest and highest blocks of earth and is usually provided with
strong basal foundation and puddle trench.

5. Secondary dike. Subdivides the pond system into several compartments with or without basal
foundation and puddle trench.

6. Tertiary dike. Subdivides the pond system into smaller compartments and serves as partition
in the nursery pond.

Figure 6. Main gate Figure 7. Secondary gate

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Figure 8. Tertiary gate Figure 9. Main/Perimeter Dike

Figure 10. Secondary Dike Figure 11. Tertiary Dike

Other Pond Support Structures

a. Water supply canals (SC). These canals serve the purpose of supplying and draining water to
and from the pond. The main water supply canal starts from the main gate and usually transverse
the central portion of the fish farms. The floor slopes towards the gate floor. A 10-15 ha pond is
provided with SC having a width of at least 3m.

b. Drainage Canals (DC). These are support structures usually constructed in the outer sides of
the pond parallel or perpendicular to the SC. These are recommended in the intensive culture,
especially of shrimps, to effect flow-through system and better water management.

c. Pumps. These are machines used in pumping water into and out of the ponds. These are very
necessary during the dry season when the water level is low and the salinity of brackish water
ponds become too high. There must be at least 2 water pumps for every hectare of fishpond
available for use, one as back up pump to the one commonly used.

Types of Improved Fishpond Layouts

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1. Conventional – consist of one sluice gate and long water supply canal. This supplies the different
compartments.

Figure 12. Conventional Type

2. Radiating – have one sluice gate; wide and short

supply canal; and secondary gates in the different
compartments.

Figure 13. Radiating Type

3. Progressive – consist of one sluice gate; long

supply canal and a secondary gates provided to
different compartments of progressively increasing
areas.

Figure 14. Progressive Type

4. Specialized – has one sluice gate; one or two

drainage gates. Two secondary gates compartment;
and a large supply and catching canal/pond.

Figure 15. Specialized Type

Advantages of the Improved Types of Layout

1. Easy control of pond water.

2. Easy eradication of fish pest and predator.
3. Easy means of cropping.
4. Pond bottom cultivation can be done when desired.
5. Artificial feeding can be conducted easily when resorted to after the natural food
of fish has been consumed.
6. High productivity.

Lay-out Specifications for Brackish Water Fishpond Systems

A. Conventional Pond System - The nursery pond (NP) comprises about 1% of the total production
area (TPA). The transition pond (TP) comprises about 9% of the TPA. The rearing pond (RP)
comprises about 80% of the TPA. The catching pond (CP) intended for a NP and TP must be at
least 2% of the compartment‘s watered area and 1 to 1½ if it is intended for the RP.

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Figure 16. Conventional Pond System

B. Modular Pond System. The nursery (NP) comprises about 4% of the total production area (TPA).
The transition pond (TP) covers only 6% of the TPA. The rearing pond (RP) is divided into three
Production Process Sates (PPS). The main idea is to transfer the fingerlings to the next larger
module. The ratio of the area of the three stages of PPS is [Link] for upper PPS and [Link] for lower
PPS.

Figure 17. Modular Pond System

C. Multiple Stock/Harvest system. There will be at least two (2) nursery ponds (NP‘s) comprising six
percent of the total production area. A fish holding canal (FHC), which holds fingerlings when the
rearing ponds are being prepared, covers at least 1% of each RP‘s area. It is connected to the
rearing pond (RP) in such a way that each RP will have a separate FHC. The RP covers up to 94%
of the TPA including FHC. The general practice is to stock at different times, different size, and
group of fingerlings and harvests the bigger one‘s selectively with the use of the gill net.

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Figure 18. Multiple Stock/Harvest System

Lay-out Specifications for Freshwater Fishpond Systems

A. Barrage pond type – a pond type usually filled by rainfall or by spring water. A series of ponds
in this type require drainage pipes and overflow ditch.

Figure 19. Barrage Pond Type

B. Diversion pond type – a pond type which has a diversion canal to serve as a passageway of
water from the main water body, e.g. creek, brook and the like.

Figure 20. Diversion Pond Type

Two types of layout of a diversion pond

1. Rosary type – a type in which series of ponds are built one after another in a string. In this type
of layout, all ponds drain into each other; upper pond drains to the lower pond.

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Figure 21. Rosary Pond Type

2. Parallel type – a type in which ponds are built parallel to each other and each pond of which
has an inlet and an outlet.

Figure 22. Rosary Pond Type

ACTIVITY 1

True or False!

Directions: Write T if the statement is true, and write F if the statement is false on the space provided.

______1. Main gate is a wooden or concrete structure that controls water in the pond system.
______2. Transition pond (TP) is for the storage or acclimatization of fingerlings.
______3. Head pond is a pond unit for producing food such as lab-lab, lumut or plankton
______4. Nursey (RP) is a pond unit for raising fingerlings up to marketable size. It is the largest
compartment in the pond system.
______5. Perimeter dike surrounds the entire pond system to ensure protection and safety of the stocks.

ACTIVITY 2

Identify Me!

Directions: Identify the different parts of a conventional pond system. With the given parts in the box, write
your answer on the space provided before the number.

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_____________1. Rearing pond

_____________2. Nursery pond
_____________3. Catching pond
_____________4. Salvage zone
_____________5. Transition pond

SELF-EVALUATION:

EXERCISE 1

Express yourself!

Directions:
Answer the following questions. Your responses in each question will be graded according to
the following rubrics:

5 4 3 2 1
Cited evidence, Cited some Cited some Most parts of Did not
explained, and evidence, evidence, most the answer do explain or
expanded idea/s some parts of parts of the not have expand the
beyond simply the answer are answer are left evidence from answer.
answering the left unexplained. the text and
question. unexplained are left
unexplained.

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1. How would share the importance of fish culture in pond to the community?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

2. Why is it important to properly design and layout the fishpond?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

3. If you were to choose among the designs of fishpond, what type or design would you choose? Why?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

PERFORMANCE TASK 1

Draw Me!
Directions: Draw the layout plan for fishpond with the design you like most in this lesson.

Materials:
1. Bond paper
2. Ruler
3. Pencil

Follow this guide:

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REVIEW OF CONCEPTS:

 Fishpond is an artificial body of water consisting of dikes, gates, pipes and canals to facilitate water
supply management.
 Nursery pond (NP) – for the rearing of fish fry to fingerlings size.
 Transition pond (TP) - for the storage or acclimatization of fingerlings.
 Rearing pond (RP) – for raising fingerlings up to marketable size. It is the largest compartment in
the pond system.
 Breeding pond – for confining breeders.
 Hatching pond – for depositing eggs until these are hatched.
 Catching pond (CP) – for confining and catching fry, fingerlings and fish of marketable size. It is
constructed at the gate inside the pond where it is intended to be used.
 Head pond – for storing reserve water.
 Feed pond – for producing food such as lab-lab, lumut or plankton.
 Water supply canal – for supplying water to the different compartments.
 Main gate. A wooden or concrete structure that controls water in the pond system.
 Secondary gate. Controls the incoming and outgoing water in the different pond units.
 Tertiary gates or pipes. Controls the incoming and outgoing water in the smaller compartments of
the pond system.
 Main/perimeter dike. Surrounds the entire pond system to ensure protection and safety of the
stocks.
 Secondary dike. Subdivides the pond system into several compartments with or without basal
foundation and puddle trench.
 Tertiary dike. Subdivides the pond system into smaller compartments and serves as partition in the
nursery pond.
 Water supply canals (SC). These canals serve the purpose of supplying and draining water to and
from the pond.
 Drainage Canals (DC). These are support structures usually constructed in the outer sides of the
pond parallel or perpendicular to the SC.
 Pumps. These are machines used in pumping water into and out of the ponds.
 Conventional – consist of one sluice gate and long water supply canal.
 Radiating – have one sluice gate; wide and short supply canal; and secondary gates in the different
compartments.
 Progressive – consist of one sluice gate; long supply canal and a secondary gates provided to
different compartments of progressively increasing areas.
 Specialized – has one sluice gate; one or two drainage gates. Two secondary gates compartment;

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and a large supply and catching canal/pond.

POST-TEST:

Choose Me Right!

Directions: Select the best answer and write the letter of your choice on the space provided before the
number.

____1. Why are fishpond layouts drawn to scale?

a. To lessen labor exerted in the construction.
b. To show the layout in a smaller space.
c. To show all the compartment units of a fishpond project.
d. To display the common accessory units of a fishpond.

____2. Which of the following fishpond facilities control the water of the pond system?
a. Main gate c. Tertiary gate
b. Secondary gate d. All of the above

____3. What type of fishpond layout that has one sluice gate and long water supply canal
which supplies the different compartment?
a. Conventional c. Progressive
b. Radiating d. Specialize

____4. What fishpond unit is intended for rearing fingerlings to marketable size?
a. Transition pond c. Rearing pond
b. Nursery pond d. Brood pond

____5. Which among the fishpond units is used as water reservoir?

a. Head pond c. Rearing pond
b. Catching pond d. Transition pond

____6. Which is intended for the confinement of breeders?

a. Breeding pond c. Head pond
b. Rearing pond d. Hatching pond

____7. What common accessory unit of a fishpond controls the water in the pond system?
a. Secondary gate c. Tertiary gate
b. Main gate d. Water supply canal

____8. In brackish water fishpond, where should fingerlings be acclimatized?

a. Transition pond c. Catching pond
b. Rearing pond d. Nursery pond

____9. What is the biggest and highest block of earth that surrounds the entire pond system?
a. Main dike c. Tertiary gate
b. Secondary gate d. Main gate

____10. The following are the advantages of pond layout, except.

a. easy control of pond water
b. low productivity
c. artificial feeding can be conducted easily
d. easy eradication of fish pest and predator.

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REFERENCES:

De la Cruz, C. R. (1983). Fish Pond Engineering: A technical Manual for Small and Medium Scale Coastal
Fish Farms in South East Asia. SOUTH CHINA SEA FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT AND
COORDINATING PROGRAMME. FAO, ROME. Retrieved October 16, 2021 from
[Link]

Prepared by: Checked and Reviewed by:

JAMES D. MALDA JULIET RUTH D. MOZAR, Ed.D.

Guest Lecturer Program Chair, BTLED

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