Rescued wildlife to benefit from aquaponics system

THE Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (Crow) has successfully implemented and maintained their aquaponics system and will soon be offering classes to help residents set up their own aquaponics system at home.

The programme will also assist in teaching students about aquaponics.

Crow’s operations director, ­Clint Halkett-Siddall, said the aquaponics project began earlier this year and will also supplement the feed for the animals at the centre.

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“The aquaponics system is a combination of aquaculture and hydroponics, where the fish waste becomes nutrients for the crops and the crops clean the water by absorbing and converting the nutrients. That process, in turn, provides fresh water for the fish.

“The vegetable beds do not contain any soil, but rather use a medium such as building stone that fills with the water that flows from the fish tanks. We opted for a flood and drain system which works on a syphon system.

“We thank the Clem and Nancy Ramsden Educational and Charitable Trust, Sage Foundation and Afrisam for making this project possible. Currently, we have installed a sump, pump, three flow bins for the fish and four beds for crops,” said Halkett-Siddall.

“In 2022, Crow added a sustainability arm to our Environmental Education Programme, which includes solar power, rainwater harvesting, organic gardening and now aquaponics. We are excited to be able to teach students about aquaponics and also host the classes for members of the public who are interested in setting up aquaponics systems at home,” he added.

The aquaponics system will also serve to offset the cost of two bakkie loads of fruit and vegetables as well as two boxes of fish the centre uses for their animals each week, through this project.

The area that has been created for the aquaponics system will also be used as an indigenous tree and vegetable seedling nursery.

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