The Use of Locally-made Fish Rearing Cages in the Iraqi Marshes: A Case Study

Fish cages and enclosures are known to be one of the intensive fish rearing methods which utilize small water area and provide high fish production. They are recommended for areas of low productivity, limited water resources and risk of pollution such as the southern marshes of Iraq. The limited use of such technique has always been related to high cost of construction and maintenance. The need of this technology in the poor areas of the marshes led to the proposal of simple technological designs that use locally available materials and satisfy the critical criteria of fish rearing systems. Use of such system as a family fish farm would enable local inhabitants to increase fish production in their areas, increase family income and improve livelihood conditions through better socio-economic status. The proposal includes the following steps: 1. Test of local aquatic plants and tools which can serve as raw materials. 2. Applying the most suitable design in terms of cost, time, building flexibility and maintenance. 3. Contribution of local inhabitants in construction steps of the fish cages. 4. Site selection survey of the most suitable areas for implementation in terms of water depth, velocity, quality, productivity and availability of shelter and security. 5. Implementing the constructed fish cages in the selected areas under the supervision of the local inhabitants. 6. Training and capacity building of members of local inhabitants on operating and maintenance. 7. Introduction of a selected commercial fish species for rearing, using the available fish fingerlings from local fish hatcheries. 8. Applying the most effective feeding method and monitoring fish wellbeing. 9. Periodical recording of fish growth criteria such as instantaneous growth rate, feed conversion efficiency and survival. 10. Performing fish production analysis and economical values to local inhabitants.