Allen Brandt, UW Stevens Point GIS Center & College of Natural Resources
Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing food production systems in the world.The aquaculture industry in Wisconsin,
comprised of approximately 2,000 registered fish farms, contributes over $7 million to the state’s economy annually.
There are many species of game, food, and bait fish cultivated throughout the state in a variety of production systems. In
recent years, the growth of the aquaculture industry in Wisconsin has slowed and the number of registered fish farms is
beginning to decrease.The reason for the decrease in fish farms is not known, but it could be from the tough economic
times, high costs of production, limited markets, environmental restrictions, or the site location of the fish farms.The
objective of the study is to determine if the site location characteristics play a part in the success of the fish farm
operation.The utilization of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to create an evaluative model examining the
environmental and socio-economic characteristics of current registered fish farms and those that have closed.The
characteristics considered are land cover, soil types, elevation, water quality and source, and proximity to infrastructure
and potential markets.The evaluative model will then be used to create a predictive model using a multi-criteria
evaluation procedure using a GIS.The predictive model will be able to determine suitable locations for sustainable
system-specific and species-specific aquaculture facilities.
Value Proposition canvas- Customer needs and pains
3B - GIS-BASED ANALYSIS OF AQUACULTURE SITE SELECTION
1. By: Allen Brandt and Jon Galloy
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
WLIA Conference 2012
2. Outline
Background
Aquaculture
GIS and Aquaculture
Objectives
Data Collection
Methods
Results
Current and Anticipated
Future Work
3. Background
Definition of aquaculture
Fastest growing form of food production (NOAA)
Wisconsin 2000+ registered fish farms
3 types of registered farms
Aquaculture production systems
WI aquaculture contribute $7 mil. to economy
Presently there is a slow decline
Exact reason for decline is not known
4. Production Systems
Three main production systems used
Ponds
Flow-Through
Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS)
Systems usually get water supply from wells and
springs but can be obtained from other sources
Each system varies in the intensity that is needed for
managing and maintaining the system
5. Pond Production System
Most common production
system used
Can vary in surface area size
from ¼ acre to over 5 acres
Normally have a varying
depth from 2.5 feet to 7-8
feet
Use a large amount of land
Least intensive
management needed
6. Flow-Through/Raceway System
Continual flow of water
through the system
Rectangular in shape with a
length:width:depth ratio of
30:3:1
Often used in cultivation of
salmonids (salmon and
trout)
Is more intensive than the
pond system
7. Recirculating Aquaculture
System (RAS)
The water is recycled (filter)
and put back into the system
Requires more system
components than ponds and
raceways
Usually located indoor and in
smaller spaces
Used for aquaponics
Most intensive system to
manage
8. Fish Species
Cold-water species
Salmon and trout
< 60F
Cool-water species
Walleye, perch, and northern pike
60—75F
Warm-water species
Tilapia, sunfish, and bass
>75F
9. GIS’s Importance
GIS and Aquaculture
One study estimated surface area and locations for
catfish and crawfish in Louisiana
Looked at soil and slope of sites
In Arizona, a study looked at what characteristics are
found at the aquaculture sites
Site Suitability Modeling Process by National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Used in comparing locations for mariculture based on
economic and environmental characteristics.
10. Objectives
Determine if site location characteristics of
aquaculture operations are significant for determining
success or failure of commercial operations in
Wisconsin
Locate areas in watershed sites in the state that have
suitable characteristics for successful fish farms
11. Data Collection
County GIS data is being collected from the County
offices
Data obtained includes: parcels, zoning, land
use, hydrology, and orthophotos
Fish farm location data was obtained from the
Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer
Protection(DATCP)
Other needed data has been gather from the US
Geological Survey, WI Dept. of Natural
Resource, SSURGO, and WI Dept. of Transportation
12. Methods
Create an evaluative model from fish farms site
location characteristics
The model will determine important characteristics
Environmental
Land cover/use, hydrology, parcel ownership…etc.
Socio-economic
Proximity of infrastructure and markets
Result will identify and classify best to worst site
characteristics of fish farms
13. Methods
Create a predictive model for the state using the
characteristics from the evaluative model
ArcGIS multi-criteria evaluation to make predictive
model
Using weighted overlays for data layers
Predictive model will be able to indicate locations by
production system or species by thermal range
Weighting data layers that are important for each
category
14. Methods
Compare predictive model to actual aquaculture farms
Using parametric and spatial correlation statistics
To ascertain initial validity
Model accuracy used to determine predictive power
16. Soil Scores,
Adams County,
WI
Ksat(permeability)
Soil texture
pH
Clay content
17. Slope
Scores, Adams
County, WI
Idealized slopes for siting
between 2-4%
Important consideration
in pond construction
18. Combined
Scores, Adams
County, WI
Ksat(permeability)
Soil texture
pH
Clay content
Slopes
19. Fish Farm
Sites, Adams
County, WI
Scores for fish farms
ranged from 1-4 based on
the combined soils and
slopes
Reflects importance of
water source
20. Predicting Watersheds from Distance
Predicted watersheds suitable for fish farms based on
distance markets
Markets broken down into 3 population classes
Market Class A population ≥10,000 and < 50,000
Market Class B ≥ 50,000 and < 100,000
Market Class C ≥ 100,000
Separate watersheds based on fish farms status
Open = registered in 2011
Closed = not registered in 2011
Calculated distance to five closest markets in each class
from the mean center of watersheds
21. Predicting Watersheds from Distance
Depicts location of #
0
watersheds with
open and closed
#
0
fish farms and #
0 #
0 # #
0 0#
0 #
0#
0
#
0
#
0 ##
0
location of market #
0
##
00 0
## #
00 0
## #
#
0
#0
00 0
classes #
0 Market Class A
>10,000 & < 50,000 #
0
#
0
#
0
#
0 # 0
#
0
#
0 Market Class B
>50,000 & < 100,000 #
0 # ##
0 00
# ##
0 00
#
0 Market Class C
#0# # # ###
0 0 0 0 ##0
# 0#0
#
0
##
00
0##
00
>100,000 # # # 000#
0 0 0 ##0 #0
0
0#
Watersheds with #
0 #
0
# #
0 0 #
0
open fish farms #
0
Watersheds with
closed fish farms
#
0
22. Predicting Watersheds from Distance
Located watersheds without prior fish farms with a
closer distance than watersheds with closed fish farms
The average distance to Market Class A was 22.7 mi. for
open watersheds and 44.4 mi. for closed watersheds
For Markets B and C the difference between average
distance was small with 94.9 mi (B) and 156.3 mi (C)
for open watersheds and 100 mi (B) and 159.2 mi (C)
for closed watersheds
The model was able to predict 46 watersheds a suitable
distance from markets
23. Predicting Watersheds from Distance
Location of
suitable
watersheds
Located in
southeast portion
of the state
24. Anticipated Results
Predictive Model will be system-specific and species-
specific
It will evaluate potential fish farm sites throughout WI
based on watersheds
The model will hopefully aid in success of new
aquaculture facilities in the state
Predict what system/species should be sited based on
several characteristics
Anticipate pond and flow-through systems to have
higher predictive ability than RAS
25. Future Work
Complete the evaluative model
Complete the predictive model using the evaluative
model
Conduct a random sample of farm visits to gain more
information on factors of success
26. After Completion
Predictive Model will be available to public
Through Wisconsin Aquaculture Association, WI
DNR, WI DATCP, UWSP- NADF, Midwest Tribal
Aquaculture Network, UW Extension
27. Acknowledgments
Project Advisors
Dr. Chris Hartleb
Dr. Keith Rice
Doug Miskowiak
GIS Data
WI Dept. of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection,
Wisconsin County LIO’s, Surveyors, and Land Records
personal
Funding for this project was provided by the
NOAA/Sea Grant programs, project #
R/SFA5.
Aquaculture is the cultivation of aquatic organisms in a controlled environment for food or natural resource enhancement. Farms need to be registered with Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection. Must renew annually. Recreational ponds can be registered, but not needed. Saves money and inconvenience. WI 5th state for production Rainbow trout. From 2007-2008 was $170,000 in trout production. In 2009 73 new farms but 91 2008 registered farms out. The reason for the decrease is not known but may be from tough economy, high cost of production, limited markets, environmental restrictions or site location of farms. Aquaculture allows fish to be produced without harming the wild fish populations.
I may possibly add to this section to make it sound better.
The picture is of a flow-through in Alaska. If you know/find of one in WI change picture. I may also have a good pic from WI just need to look
Pic is from Nelson and Pade Aquaponics in Montello WI
A pic or two of the species
Louisiana for different kinds of aquaculture development and clarify development alternatives and feasibilities before investments in unsuitable areas.Do we need to define what GIS is and does?
Do we have data from the all the listed places. Also I put is being collect for the county data because 2 are still over $1000 and 1 is working on getting the data and 1 I am trying to get a response.
May have to reclassify the files into same coordinate system and format to work with overlay operations. Soil, water quality, source (springs, wells, diverted streams), elevation, slope, roads cities. Type of system, species of fish
Chi squared
Will be editing this map to have larger symbols to match second map
Predict based on water quality and source
There needs to be a smooth flow for this page.
Could be a different picture. If you know of a good one add it.