This week I had the chance to work out at the Mahanga Bay Aquaculture facility again. This time it was with the groper. Out in the bay there are 2 rafts. Underneath each raft is a net that house the groper that are being farmed. At present there are around 650 groper. Our job was to help catch, measure and weigh each groper and then transfer some of them to the other raft.
Each groper has a microchip that is scanned and the length and weight data is entered against this fish. Scientists can then monitor growth rates.
The reason for splitting up the groper onto 2 rafts is to experiment with feeding to see if this makes any difference to growth rates. Both groups of fish would be fed the same amount but one lot would be fed twice a day and the other lot 8 times a day.
It was tricky work to catch the groper but luckily someone stronger than me did this. Before they could be measured the groper needed to be sedated. This didn't stop them flapping completely but made them a lot easier to handle. Once returned to the water it took a few minutes for the fish to come round completely but then they were off swimming happily again.
It was a beautiful Wellington day out on the raft and a fun experience. Especially getting to drive the boat!
This week I had the chance to work out at the Mahanga Bay Aquaculture facility again. This time it was with the groper. Out in the bay there are 2 rafts. Underneath each raft is a net that house the groper that are being farmed. At present there are around 650 groper. Our job was to help catch, measure and weigh each groper and then transfer some of them to the other raft.
Each groper has a microchip that is scanned and the length and weight data is entered against this fish. Scientists can then monitor growth rates.
The reason for splitting up the groper onto 2 rafts is to experiment with feeding to see if this makes any difference to growth rates. Both groups of fish would be fed the same amount but one lot would be fed twice a day and the other lot 8 times a day.
It was tricky work to catch the groper but luckily someone stronger than me did this. Before they could be measured the groper needed to be sedated. This didn't stop them flapping completely but made them a lot easier to handle. Once returned to the water it took a few minutes for the fish to come round completely but then they were off swimming happily again.
It was a beautiful Wellington day out on the raft and a fun experience. Especially getting to drive the boat!
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