Aquaculture Facts, Fish Anatomy and Identification

1. Aquaculture Facts, Fish Anatomy and Identification by: Barry Fox Extension Specialist 4-H Marine/Aquatic Education Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Patricia Sobrero, Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg; Clinton V. Turner, Interim Administrator, 1890 Extension Program, Virginia State, Petersburg.  Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, veteran status, national origin, disability, or political affiliation. An equal opportunity/ affirmative action employer.

2. AQUACULTURE FACTS 1. Where are most aquaculture farms located in the U.S.? The South, 68% 2. How many aquaculture farms are there in the U.S. More than 4500 3. How many acres of aquaculture ponds are in the U.S.? 320,000 acres 4. What is the value of aquaculture sales in the U.S.? $1,000,000,000 (1998) Click for Answer

3. AQUACULTURE FACTS 5. Which state has the highest aquaculture sales? Mississippi 6. What was the total U.S. catfish production in 2003? 661.5 million pounds 7. What is the value of Virginia’s aquaculture production? $25,000,000 8. What are most popular types of pets in the U.S.? Aquarium and ornamental fish Click for Answer

4. AQUACULTURE FACTS 9. What is the value of ornamental fish produced in the U.S.? $70,000,000 10. How much do Americans spend each year for fishing bait? $1,000,000,000 11. What is the annual value of U.S. produced bait fish? $37,500,000 12. What are the top three aquaculture shellfish producing states? TX, LA, VA Click for Answer

5. AQUACULTURE FACTS 13. What is the average annual consumption of fish/shellfish in the U.S.? 15 pounds per person 14. What is the second highest deficit import item in the US. Fisheries products at $7 billion 15. What is the total world-wide aquaculture production? 70.4 billion pounds 16. What are the most widely produced food fish in the world? Tilapia and carp Click for Answer

6. COMMON AQUACULTURE SPECIES American Eel Alligator Rainbow Trout Mussel Carp Salmon Tropical Fish Tilapia Scallop Conch Sunfish Clam Flounder Bait Minnow Blue Crab Koi Oyster Lobster Crayfish Hybrid Striped Bass Abalone Channel Catfish Shrimp

7. Fish Anatomy Study the following slide then test your knowledge of fish anatomy.

8. Fish External Anatomy Source: www.floridafisheries.com

9. Name the Parts of the Fish. Spiny Dorsal Fin 4 Nares (Nostrils) 3 Soft Dorsal Fin 5 Operculum (Gill Cover) 2 Caudal (Tail) Fin 6 Eye 1 Mouth 14 Peduncle 7 Vent 10 Lateral Line 8 Pectoral Fin 13 Scales 11 Anal Fin 9 Pelvic Fins 12 Click here for Answers FISH EXTERNAL ANATOMY Source: www.floridafisheries.com

10. Do You Know the Sunfish? Study the fish illustrations. As each fish is highlighted, match it to its correct common name. Then see if you are correct.

11. NAME THAT SUNFISH A E BLUEGILL WARMOUTH REDBREAST SMALLMOUTH BASS REDEAR FLIER BLACK CRAPPIE PUMPKINSEED LARGEMOUTH BASS F B C G I H D Illustration Source: www.floridafisheries.com

12. PUMPKINSEED A PUMPKINSEED (Lepomis gibbosis): The Pumpkinseed is a very colorful, deep-bodied fish with a small mouth. The breast and belly are orange to yellow, with lighter colored sides in a variety of bright colors. The earflap is black and has an orange-red spot on the border. The bright, orange spots covering the lower half of the body give the species its common name. Several blue-colored veins radiate across the jaw and gill cover. This species prefers clear, non-flowing water, substrates of organic debris and dense, aquatic vegetation.

13. NAME THAT SUNFISH A E BLUEGILL WARMOUTH REDBREAST SMALLMOUTH BASS REDEAR FLIER BLACK CRAPPIE PUMPKINSEED LARGEMOUTH BASS F B C G I H D Illustration Source: www.floridafisheries.com

14. BLACK CRAPPIE B BLACK CRAPPIE (Pomoxis nigromaculatus): The black crappie is a silvery-green to yellowish fish with large dorsal and anal fins of almost identical shape and size. The sides are marked with black blotches that become more intense towards the back. The dorsal, anal and caudal fins also are marked with rows of dark spots. Crappies have compressed bodies, small heads and arched backs. It has a large mouth with an upper jaw extending under the eye. Black crappies thrive in clear, natural lakes and reservoirs with moderate vegetation.

15. NAME THAT SUNFISH A E BLUEGILL WARMOUTH REDBREAST SMALLMOUTH BASS REDEAR FLIER BLACK CRAPPIE PUMPKINSEED LARGEMOUTH BASS F B C G I H D Illustration Source: www.floridafisheries.com

16. REDEAR SUNFISH C REDEAR (Lepomis microlophus): The redear is similar in shape to the bluegill, but lacks the dark spot at the base of the posterior portion of the dorsal fin and has a red or orange border around the "ear" flap. The body coloration is light olive-green to gold, with red or orange flecks on the breast. The breast of a mature redear is typically a bright yellow. The body is heavily spotted and they have long, pointed pectoral fins. They are usually found around sandy or shell-covered areas of ponds and lakes, and are often located near grasses.  Their preference for aquatic snails and clams has earned them the name of shellcracker.

17. NAME THAT SUNFISH A E BLUEGILL WARMOUTH REDBREAST SMALLMOUTH BASS REDEAR FLIER BLACK CRAPPIE PUMPKINSEED LARGEMOUTH BASS F B C G I H D Illustration Source: www.floridafisheries.com

18. BLUEGILL SUNFISH D BLUEGILL (Lepomis microchirus): Bluegills have small mouths and oval-shaped bodies. They are usually somewhat lavender and bronze with 5 - 7 dark bars on their sides. Two distinctive characteristics are the prominent black spot on the rear edge of the gill-cover and a black spot at the base of the posterior portion of the dorsal fin. They inhabit lakes, ponds, slow-flowing rivers and streams with sand, mud or gravel bottoms and prefer aquatic vegetation.