Comparative Economic Analysis of Using Different Sizes of Constructed Wetlands in Recirculating Catfish Pond Production

Abstract

Results of experiments using constructed wetlands at the Mississippi State University-Coastal Aquaculture Unit (MSU-CAU) were used to evaluate the investment and operation costs of integrating different sizes of constructed wetlands in recirculating catfish pond production. In order to create the commercial pond-wetland systems used in this analysis, each wetland was placed adjacent to each of the ponds used in catfish production. Hypothetical recirculating catfish production systems consisting of six 3.24-ha ponds and six 0.489-, 0.809- or 1.134-ha constructed wetlands were evaluated. Higher investment and operating costs were required for catfish production systems with larger constructed wetlands.

Key Words:

• Constructed wetlands
• catfish production
• recirculating pond production system
• partial budget analysis