Mariculture in Old Rice Field Impoundments: An Analogy for Dredged Material Containment Areas,
Abstract
Thousands of acres of South Carolina's estuarine coastline were impounded for rice production before the start of the twentieth century. This acreage, owned by private concerns, State agencies, and the Federal government, has been used for extensive aquaculture production since rice cultivation was abandoned. The most common use has been active management for waterfowl, and significant returns have been realized from hunting leases. Historically, a variety of organisms of interest to aquaculturists have been introduced into the ponds. Our research has shown that blue crabs, mullet, and shrimp survive at a higher rate and grow larger than do their wild counterparts. Additional studies have indicated that cage-grown oysters are also adaptable to rice-field culture. Other species, such as bait minnows, clams, and scallops, could be raised in the brackish water impoundments while prawns and crawfish would be suitable for freshwater impoundments.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADP002140
Entities
People
- C. A. Wilson
- J. Michael Dean
- N. C. Alon
Organizations
- University of South Carolina