by Dan Burden, content specialist, AgMRC,
Iowa State University, djburden@iastate.edu
Profile revised January 2007 by Diane Huntrods, AgMRC, Iowa State University.
Overview
Ornamental fish like koi or carp are usually warm water, freshwater fish that include the South American and African chiclids, many catfish species and other “exotics” that include species from around the world. Far more specialized (saltwater) marine species are cultured to a very limited extent due to the difficulty of breeding and rearing these species in contained systems; they tend to be wild-caught fish sold into the trade.
The actual market for ornamental fish is difficult to determine due to the number of hobbyists who sell their product locally to one another and to pet shops. Other sales are nationally via the Internet, trade magazines and specialty newsletters. These are very high-value fish and many “sales” are on a cash basis or involve barter for other species. However, the United Nations estimates that the value of world ornamental production in 2000 was $900 million at wholesale price and $3 billion retail (Source: State of World Aquaculture 2006).
Commercial Production of Ornamental Fish
Of the 358 U.S. farms raising ornamental fish in 2005, 133 were located in Florida, which had total sales of $33.2 million that year. Total U.S. sales of ornamental fish were over $51.3 million in 2005.
Export and Import of Ornamental Fish
U.S. exports of ornamental fish in the first half of 2006 were valued at only $3.1 million, down 4 percent from the same period in 2005, but 39 percent lower than in the first 6 months of 2004. The decline in exports in 2006 is mainly due to smaller shipments to Canada. Shipments were also lower to most European countries. This decline was partially offset by larger exports to both Hong Kong and Taiwan. (Source: Aquaculture Outlook, 2006.)
During the first 6 months of 2006, the value of U.S. ornamental fish imports increased almost 10 percent to $26.3 million. Most of the imports continue to be from Asian countries. With shipments totaling $1.5 million, imports from Japan have expanded by 98 percent since the first 6 months of 2000.
Koi or Carp
Koi are ornamental selections of the common carp. Their natural distribution includes temperate portions of Asia and Europe. Carp, primarily grass carp, were widely introduced into North America by the U.S. Fish Commission in the mid 1800s and are now considered a nuisance fish in many habitats.
Commercial Production of Koi
Koi are cultured in private facilities for sale as an ornamental fish; they are usually stocked into private ponds. Under culture conditions, between 81°F and 93°F promotes optimal growth for young koi, while 68°F to 82°F is optimal for adults. The pH should remain between 6.8 and 7.5. Although koi are capable of surviving in warm waters with low oxygen, dissolved oxygen levels above 5.0 ppm are optimal.
Koi are an extremely high-value fish, with koi fanciers usually being equated with orchid collectors and similar specialists. The price differential, which depends on size and breeding condition, between standard-quality pond fish and prized show-quality fish is extreme. A popular U.S. Web site lists prices for individual (small) 3-inch to 4-inch fish at $4.00 to $24.00 and (largest size grade) 23-inch to 24-inch fish at $660 to $3,000. The maximum lifespan of a koi may easily be 20 to 25 years, although one specimen is on record as having lived 200 years. (Source: Fact Sheet, Ashi Fancy Koi.)
According to the 2005 Census of Aquaculture, 193 farms in the United States raised koi in 2005, with total sales of almost $6.6 million. Florida ranks first in number of farms (24) and total sales ($589,000), while Ohio ranks second in number of farms (15) and California ranks second in total sales ($545,000).
Commercial Production of Carp
Carp do best in warm, shallow impoundments with abundant vegetation. They are tolerant of extreme temperatures and low dissolved oxygen levels. In addition, they tolerate poor water quality quite well. Carp feed on a wide variety of plant and animal matter. They are capable of taking food items floating at the surface but generally root in soft substrates and consume food material suspended in the resulting silt cloud. Spawning commences in early spring as water temperatures approach 63°F. A single female may produce up to 2,000,000 eggs. Carp usually are purchased as fingerlings and reared to around five to six pounds before sale to fish processors.
(The following is excerpted from Engle, C.R., 1998, Annual Costs and Returns of Raising Bighead Carp in Commercial Catfish Ponds, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff; www.uaex.edu/Other_Areas/publications/PDF/UAPB/FSA-9078.pdf.)
Bighead carp (BHC) and grass carp have been raised in catfish ponds in the United States for about 20 years and sold through the live haul market as a live product. Bighead carp grow rapidly in catfish ponds by feeding primarily on zooplankton and detritus, which they filter out of the water. They are stocked at 300 per acre while grass carp are stocked at 10 to 30 per acre.
In commercial catfish ponds, fingerling BHC can grow to 5.3 pounds in one growing season. Minimum market size of BHC varies from year to year and can be as low as 4 pounds to as high as 7 pounds. Yields of 660 pounds per acre can be obtained that result in a pond (15-acre) yield of 9,900 pounds. At the average market price of $0.40 per pound, additional revenues of $3,960 per pond are generated.
Returns above variable cost were $15,734 for the 15-acre pond. A sensitivity analysis of one 15-acre production system demonstrated that at a selling price of $0.25 per pound of product, gross return was $54,975 and total costs $48,416 for a profit of $6,559. At a selling price of $0.70 per pound of product, gross return was $59,430 and total costs $48,416 for a profit of $11,014. (It should be noted that carp and catfish can be raised concurrently in the same ponds, but stocking sizes and quantities need to be adjusted to account for fingerling mortality.)
Of the 103 U.S. farms rearing carp in 2005, 84 specialized in rearing grass carp as a food fish. In addition, $3.7 million of the total carp sales of $5.3 million that year was for grass carp. Arkansas has the highest number of carp farms (14), including grass carp farms (10). [Source: Census of Aquaculture (2005), 2006.] No data exists on the development of other high-value markets (smoked products, local direct-to-retail sales). Carp are widely farmed in Europe and Asia.
Profile created July 2004 and revised January 2007.