Aquaculture Facts,

Fish Anatomy and Identification

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.

by:Barry Fox

Extension Specialist4-H Marine/Aquatic Education

AQUACULTURE FACTS

4. What is the value of aquaculture sales in the U.S.?

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

$1,000,000,000 (1998)

Click for Answer

8. What are most popular types of pets in the U.S.?

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

Aquarium and ornamental fishClick for Answer

AQUACULTURE FACTS

TX, LA, VA

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?

Click for Answer

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

COMMON AQUACULTURE SPECIES

Crayfish

Carp

Tilapia

Channel Catfish

Blue Crab

Salmon

Sunfish

Rainbow Trout

Shrimp

Lobster

Mussel

Clam

Scallop

Abalone

Koi

American Eel

Flounder

Oyster

Bait Minnow

Hybrid Striped Bass

Alligator

Conch

Tropical Fish

Fish Anatomy

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

Fish External Anatomy

Source: www.floridafisheries.com

FISH EXTERNAL ANATOMY

Name the Parts of the Fish.

Source: www.floridafisheries.com

14

6

543

2

1Eye

Operculum (Gill Cover)

Nares (Nostrils) Spiny Dorsal Fin Soft Dorsal Fin

Caudal (Tail) Fin

13

12

11

10

9

8

7Peduncle

Lateral Line

Anal Fin

Vent

Scales

Pelvic Fins

Pectoral Fin

Mouth

Click here for Answers

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.

B

C

F

E

D

Illustration Source: www.floridafisheries.com

BLUEGILL

WARMOUTH

REDBREAST

SMALLMOUTH BASS

REDEAR

FLIER

BLACK CRAPPIE

PUMPKINSEED

LARGEMOUTH BASS

G

IH

A NAME THAT SUNFISH

A

PUMPKINSEED

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.

B

C

F

E

D

Illustration Source: www.floridafisheries.com

BLUEGILL

WARMOUTH

REDBREAST

SMALLMOUTH BASS

REDEAR

FLIER

BLACK CRAPPIE

PUMPKINSEED

LARGEMOUTH BASS

G

IH

A NAME THAT SUNFISH

BLACK CRAPPIE

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.

B

B

C

F

E

D

Illustration Source: www.floridafisheries.com

BLUEGILL

WARMOUTH

REDBREAST

SMALLMOUTH BASS

REDEAR

FLIER

BLACK CRAPPIE

PUMPKINSEED

LARGEMOUTH BASS

G

IH

A NAME THAT SUNFISH

C

REDEAR SUNFISH

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.

B

C

F

E

D

Illustration Source: www.floridafisheries.com

BLUEGILL

WARMOUTH

REDBREAST

SMALLMOUTH BASS

REDEAR

FLIER

BLACK CRAPPIE

PUMPKINSEED

LARGEMOUTH BASS

G

IH

A NAME THAT SUNFISH

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.