Aquaponics Commercial Course Report

[GaryD]

Hi,

The 2009 Commercial Aquaponics Course, was conducted at Northgate and ran for four days from Tuesday 27th to Friday 30th January 2009.

Attended by 10 people from as far afield as Laos, Malaysia and Hawaii, the Course featured keynote speaker Dr James Rakocy (UVI Aquaponics Research Centre) and a comprehensive array of other presentations from Dr Brett Roe (Central Queensland University), Professor David Moriarty, Max Wingfield (DPI -Bribie Island), Martin O'Dee, Murray Hallam and myself.

On Wednesday, the Course participants undertook a field trip to a commercial aquaponics unit based on the UVI raft model. This farm, one of very few commercial aquaponics systems in Australia, produces barramundi and a variety of herb and salad plants. We also got to see two small AP units both of which evidenced an innovative approach to backyard aquaponics.

Dr James Rakocy led the Course through a day and a half of sessions drawn from the very successful UVI Aquaponics program. Dr Brett Roe's session focussed on his work with fish, plants and worms at CQU.....and Max Wingfield provided some very useful information on fish species suitable for commercial aquaponics. Professor David Moriarty introduced the Course to the little understood world of Probiotics while Murray Hallam spoke about fish and plant species used in aquaponics. My own session dealt with Integrated Aquaculture in a commercial context.

The Course attendees included people with a diverse variety of backgrounds.....some had little or no experience of aquaponics and others (particularly those from overseas) were already involved in a variety of food production undertakings.

The small group setting for the program provided for a relaxed and friendly environment and ensured that the group had almost unlimited access to the presenters.

The Course was facilitated by Martin O'Dee from the Aquaponics Shop at Northgate. Martin is to be congratulated on his commitment and perseverence in putting this program together.

I'm sure that the 2009 Commercial Aquaponics Course will serve as a precursor to similarly successful events in the future.

Gary Donaldson

Photo 1 - Dr James Rakocy, Murray and myself
Photo 2 - Course attendess on the field trip.

[aussieap]

I would like to add my congratulations to Martin and thanks to all involved. I found the week very informative and look forward to spreading the word in my part of the world.

[Murray]

Aussieap,

It was good to meet with you at the Aquaponics Convention and Seminar.
The information was just fantastic and Dr James Rakocy is a really excellent teacher.

I was particularly very pleased to hear him say that fibreglass was the best material for the construction of aquaponics systems...

Personally, I obtained the answers to a number of puzzles.
His lecture on nitrification and de-nitrification and associated problems I found to be particularly interesting.

With 30 years experience he is bound to have learned a few things I would think.

Anyone who did not attend really missed out on a great event. It may well be the last time that Dr James Rakocy will visit these shores.

[aussieap]

Good to finally meet you and Gary, Muzz.

I found that de nitrification chat particularly helpful too. I never fully understood how you could remove solids but retain most of the goodness until Dr Rakocy explained it. He was such a good presenter and was able to get complex information across in an easy to understand manner.

I really feel the week will help to galvanize further activity in the aquaponics field in Australia. I look forward to working closely with yourself and Gary to establish your systems down here in my part of the world. I implored Rudi and Tracy to really use the wonderful contacts up there to help drive their hopes and dreams for a future business. There was such a fantastic cross section of people presenting which will really give everyone attending from Qld good reference points for further industry contact.

Like Gary, it is going to take me a while for it to all sink in. The dvds when they come out will, I feel, be very important reference material for those who attended.

Catch up shortly to tie things up between us. I have several enquiries at present so things will start to happen pretty quickly.