Cage construction

CAGE CONSTRUCTION

Training manual for Kattakaduwa fishing community

By
N.P.P.Liyanage
S.M.Ruwanpathirana
Dr. S.C.Jayamanne

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Acknowledgements

This booklet was produced for the benefit of the fishing

community of Kattakaduwa Fisheries Society who are
participating in the production of fish in collaboration with
NARA and NAQDA under AECI sponsored AIDA Project.
The author wishes to acknowledge the financial support given
by AIDA and AECI to fulfill this requirement.

The author also wishes to acknowledge the efforts of Hon.

Felix Perera, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources,
Mr. Javier Gila, the Director of AIDA, Ms. Priyadarshini
Jayawardena, the consul of Spain in Sri Lanka and Mr.
K.Haputantri, the Chairman of NARA. Dr. Elmo Weerakoon
Director General of NAQDA who geared this project in to
reality. Encouragement and moral support given by Ms.
Avelina Lopez, the consultant of the project and Mr. Ventura
Rodriguez, the coordinator of the project are also highly
appreciated. The author also express his deepest gratitude to
Mr. Vidath Dharmadasa, Senior Aquaculturist of NAQDA for
providing photographs.

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Table of contents

Acknowledgement i
Table of content ii
1.0

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1.0 Introduction

Cages for fish culture can be constructed from a variety of

materials and in practically every shape and size. Cages can
also be purchased from companies that sell aquaculture
supplies but it will be more economical if construction of cages
can be done by oneself.

The two most important things to remember are:

Cages should be made of sturdy materials. The cage materials

should be strong, durable, and nontoxic.

The cage (mesh size) must be able to retain the fish, yet allow
maximum circulation of water through the cage. It is best to
select the largest mesh possible that will retain your fish.
Adequate water circulation brings oxygen into the cage while
washing wastes away.

2.0 Cage construction

2.1 Size and shape

Cages in a variety of shapes such as rectangular, squire shape,

cylindrical or polygonal, can be easily constructed by the fish
farmer using materials such as bamboo or wooden slats and
wire, nylon and other synthetic meshes or can be purchased
already made from several sources

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Different shapes of small cages

Cages can be made almost any size but most round cages are 4
feet deep and a little less than 4 feet in diameter because rolls
of plastic mesh or plastic coated welded wire are sold in 4 foot
widths. Rectangular cages are usually 8 ft. x 4 ft. x 4 ft. / 8 ft. x
8 ft. x 4 ft or 12 ft. x 6 ft. x 4 ft. (length x width x depth)

2.2 Materials

Cage components consist of frame, nets, floats, weights and

ropes.

Frame

The frame of the cage can be made from wood, plastic,

fiberglass, PVC or metal. Frames made from metals and wood
should be coated with a water resistant paint.

Net materials

Net materials can be plastic coated, welded wire, solid plastic

mesh or nylon netting. Mesh size of the net depends on the
culture species, initial size of the seed, and the culture method.
If we use 6 - 8 inch1 fingerlings as seed to culture most suitable
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One inch is 25,4 mm
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mesh size is ½ inch and nets with 1/8, ¼ or 3/8 inch (0.5 – 1.0
mm) mesh sizes can be used for fry to fingerling rearing cages.

Different net materials

Floats

For the floating cages, flotation can be provided by waterproof

foam rubber, Styrofoam, sealed PVC pipes, plastic bottles or
barrels, sealed metallic barrels or any other suitable floating
material. For small cages Styrofoam or foam rubber floats are
commonly used and plastic or metal barrels are used for large
cages.

Plastic barrel Metal barrel Floats

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Anchors

On the other hand it should be anchored using stones or cement

or metallic anchors. For fixed cages the cage should be fixed to
the bottom using bamboo, PVC pipes or metallic pipes and
nylon ropes to avoid drift.

Materials used for cage construction should have following

qualities:

- Be durable and strong, but lightweight

- Allow complete exchange of water volume every 30
to 60 seconds
- Allow free passage of fish wastes
- Not stress or injure fish
- Be resistant to fouling
- Be inexpensive and readily available

2.2 Types

There are two types of cage designs - fixed and floating.

Two types of cages

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Floating cages

Convenient for water depths of more than 5 meters. Usually,

floating net fish cages are made of nylon net meterial, all sides
and corners supported with polyethylene rope fixed by a nylon
twine. Cage is suspending within a rectangular area. Whilst the
top is clamped to bamboo structure which are suspended by
floaters (generally barrels), the bottom is provided with lead,
stone or cement sinkers. Generally, bamboo structure of large
cages clamped to the pond bottom by anchors or weights)

Floating cage

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Fixed cages

Convenient for water depth of 1 to 5 meters. Fixed cages can

be designed with a frame which is used to hold the net material
or without the frame. Using poles, these two types of cages can
be fixed to the pond bottom. For the cages without frame, these
fixing poles also can be used to tide up the net and keep the
shape of the cage.

Fixed cage

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Structural designs

Behavior of the culture species is the most important factor

when designing a fish cage. When less active species like
Tilapia nilotica are under culture, the shape of the cage does
not affect its mobility. However, designing of rectangular cages
makes it easy for assemblage and management.

Any type of cage should have an opening at the top which will
be used to insert seed and give food. In some cases this
opening can be used for other purposes such as get the partial
harvest. Size of this opening can vary and it should be covered
with completely or partially removable lid. This lid can be
made with opaque cover which prevents fish from jumping out
or predatory birds from getting in or can be constructed from
the same type of netting as the rest of the cage. Feeding is
made easier when constructing the lid from netting, because the
feed can throw directly into the cage without opening the lid.

Steps of the construction of large floating cage

Following photographs show the steps followed in construction

of cages. These photographs were taken during active
construction of cages took place at Chandrika wewa.

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Photographs taken by Vidath Dharmadasa

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3.0 Placement of cages

Location of the cage in the water body is a key factor to the

success.

Factors to consider for cage placement:

Placement of the cage is one of the most important

considerations affecting cage culture. Water body must have at
least 1/2 acre or more in surface area. Cage should be placed in
an area where there is at least two feet of water between the
bottom of the cage and the pond or lake bottom. This will help
to keep away the excreta of the fish and excess fish feed fall
through the cage from the immediate area of the cage and
avoid accumulate wastes near the fish cage.

The cage should also be placed where the maximum natural

water circulation present which can move water freely through
and around the cage. This water circulation can create by
prevailing wind action. Even slightest breeze also help to flush
water through and around the cage. It will provide natural feed
and remove the waste away from the cage.

Water circulation can reduce by coves, weed beds and over

heading trees. Therefore cage should be placed away from this
type of places.

Disturbances near the cage are not desirable. It should be taken

in to account whether it has an easy access during all types of
weather conditions when selecting a place to fix the cage.

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An appropriate distance should be kept between cages

otherwise it may reduce Dissolve Oxygen level and cause
adverse effects to the caged fish.

The arrangement of the cages is not a problem if there are only

few of these. However, 8 or more should be arranged
depending upon the direction of the wind. On the other hand its
better if the longest side of the cage is oriented perpendicular to
the direction of the wind.

Placement of cages

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4. Maintenance

Regular maintenance is essential for the all type of cages. It

should be raked off with a stick or broom periodically to avoid
the clogging of mesh due to the bio fouling and accumulation
of suspended particles or bryozoa. This will ensure adequate
water circulation through the cage.

Cage door must be regularly inspected to make sure it is tightly

closed. A strong wind can blow the lid open and allow fish to
escape.

NARA-AIDA Project
2006-2009