Commercial Facility Based on the University of the Virgin Island’s Aquaponic System

Since the 1980s, the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Agricultural Experiment Station in St. Croix has been conducting research on recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Much of the UVI research is conducted using a commercial-size RAS that incorporates aquaponics. Aquaponics is the practice of growing herbs and vegetables in water from a RAS system that has fish growing ina connected tank. Through years of research, the staff at UVI has established an aquaponics RAS that is made of easily procured material and is simple and efficient to run. Using an eighth of an acre for production, the staff raises fish and produce that is sold at a farm store located on campus. The system includes four fish tanks, six hydroponic tanks and filtration tanks to support good water quality and growth for both the fish and plants.