About us

Aquaculture has been one the World’s fastest growing Agri-sectors for the past decade and a half. Much of this growth has been driven by the need to find alternative fish supplies to rapidly dwindling fish stocks both marine and freshwater, also from increased demand in fish consumption.

Fish Farming and in particular Tilapia farming can and must provide relief to many of these people by the farming of high-quality fish protein. To achieve this, fish farms must be established in both urban and rural areas.

Over 30 years of practical experience and research led to the formation of David Fincham Aquaculture (DFA) in 2014. The development of the Aquaculture Production Unit Intensive Tilapia Farming System has met the demand and interest of Tilapia farmers in Africa.

David Fincham Aquaculture (DFA) believes that the small-scale farmer is vital to the food security of any economy. Fish Farming opens new markets and economies which yield good returns, which in turn can be used to further develop other farming activities and diversification. Often farmers are at the mercy of external and uncontrollable elements such the economy, markets, diseases, and the financial institutions. The one tank fish farming system farming can change that!

Aquaculture Production Unit - AN INTEGRATED, SIMPLE SYSTEM

The one tank fish farming system is an aquaculture system designed around Recirculating Aquaculture System design principles. It offers a unique and simple way for anyone to enter the world of fish farming with the lowest cost of entry, lowest running costs and lowest technical requirements.

It is a system designed to be operational within a few days of installation. All that may be required in addition to the one tank fish farming system is a closed tunnel which in turn is dependent on species and site location. Assembly of the one tank fish farming system can be completed with the use of very basic tools, namely as little as a size 10 spanner and a screwdriver. The system is pre-plumbed, and installation can be achieved in a few hours, when it can be filled with water, turned on and stocked.

Each pond system in the one tank fish farming system is packed into itself meaning that the entire farm can be packed compactly into containers, shipped and then erected anywhere.

The system has been designed to be as simple as possible to maintain and to operate. Basic skills are all that is needed and maintenance on the ponds and filters has been kept to the minimum required to achieve the goals of the fish farm on hand.

The one tank fish farming system can be scaled for any size operation. It is a unique modular self-contained pond format therefore this aspect makes it ideal for small scale farmers to learn the industry and to do so at low financial risk.

The one tank fish farming system will work with many fish species.

The one tank fish farming system has been designed to address the need to farm fish in environments which are not generally suitable such as in a low temperature area, or logistically challenging – being far away from suppliers and markets, and not environmentally friendly due to perceived pollution and fish disease risks of farming in cages or lakes.

The Attributes of the system are:

  • Individual self-contained tanks that are pre-assembled
  • Completely scalable and modular
  • Suitable for many species of fish, Tilapia, Catfish, Carp
  • Lowest power consumption model on the market today
  • The systems have been designed to be light, compact and easily transported, thus savings on logistics, shipping taxes and duties
  • Low costs systems both in Capital and Operating costs, maximizing the return on investment and profitability
  • Small footprint and space utilization
  • Fish can be introduced to the system immediately after filling with water
  • 100% waste water recovery used for irrigation and or hydroponics.
  • Easy to learn operating skills with little prior experience.
  • Water use has been minimised by the filter designs and operations
  • The Farm is low maintenance = more time spent farming
  • Offers a high level of biosecurity by running self-contained systems

How much does it cost?

Each environment and farmer’s requirements are different and therefore might entail different costs.

The cost is R43 000 excl VAT.

The one tank fish farming system has been designed to be profitable above all else. The lowest capital cost on the market means that profit margins are higher, and earlier than with other farm models. This lowers financial risk, ensures more financial resilience/sustainability and means higher profits from the outset.

Why Tilapia?

DFA farms with O.niloticus tilapia, the origin of which is Til-Aqua in the Netherlands.  The reasons for this are;

  • Til-Aqua Tilapia is selected for their genetics, as in the YY super male genetics.  This allows our farmers to farm with only male stock yielding superior growth rates.
  • These fish have also been selected for colour the Red gene offering a superb red coloured fish.

Tilapia is now the 3rd most farmed and consumed species worldwide.  A few organisations have worked to select and improve the genetic values of the species Worldwide.  Til-Aqua have developed the Natural Male Tilapia strain allowing fingerlings to be genetically selected for all male production as opposed to using other sex reversal techniques.

Website links to more about tilapia