SRACPublicationNo. 360
9Aquatic Weed Management
Control Methods
JamesL. SheltonandTim R. Murphy*
Many different aquatic plants can be
found in, on and around fish culture
ponds. These plants range from
microscopic organisms known as
plankton algae which drift suspend-ed
in the water, to larger plants
rooted in the pond bottom. Certain
types of aquatic plants are essential
for fish production. However,
aquatic plants that interfere with
commercial fish production are con-sidered
to be weeds.
Intensive fish production often invol-ves
adding large amounts of commer-cial
feeds and inorganic fertilizers to
ponds. Nutrients introduced into the
water through feeds and fertilizers
often create an ideal habitat for
aquatic weed growth. Submersed
aquatic weeds are particularly un-desirable
because fish harvesting
seines will ride up over the weeds
and allow fish to escape. Ponds with
dense weed infestations can be im-possible
to harvest since the weight
of the weeds accumulating in the
seine can become too great to be
pulled. Additionally, separating fish
from weeds is a slow process and
can severely stress the fish.
*The University of Georgia.
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