National Research Center of Saline Water Aquatics
National research center of saline water aquatics has established since 2000 as a Research Station subsidiaries of Iranian Fisheries Research Organization. The Administrative building officially inaugurated at 2004. Due to importance of topics and development of the research activities and achievements, promoted to the National Research Center, at 2013.
National Research Center of Saline Water Aquatics is located at 120km southeast of Yazd province (100km Yazd-Bafq road) at the centre of Iran around Dareh-Anjir and Bahabad deserts neighbouring to the seasonal Salt River. High level of underground water, poor vegetation, temperature variation ranges from 57°C in august and -17 degree in December are some characters of the area. The source of water used for aquaculture in farms of this region is underground brackish water. Lack of free water in the area, closed aquifers and not interference of aquifers at the region caused the Center being quarantine.
Facilities and equipments
- 60 acres area
- 2 semi-deep wells (11& 15 ppt salinities) with the total flow rate of 60L/S
- General electricity power net 3 phase, 200kw (120kw generator as an emergency warning electricity system)
- Branch (1inch) of fresh water
- Official building (300m2), conference room(50m2), library (35m2) and sentry building (50m2)
- High speed internet ADSL (1MB).
- 18 earthen ponds ranged between 500 to 10000 m2 (total area 5 acres).
- 12 concrete octagonal pools (45 m3), under construction.
- 4 research saloons (1500m2) with a chiller, aquarium room, 8 round 20-30m3 concrete ponds, fibreglass tanks (2-9m3), polyethylene tanks(300L), glass incubators and traffs and aquaponics system. (Fifth research saloon under construction)
- One 200 m3 round concrete pond
- Food making manufactory (40m2) with instruments: mixer, meat chopper machine, dryer, scales, ...
- 3 powerhouses and engine room
- 2 central gas oil hothouses
- 3 storehouses (200 m2)
- Central air blower system
- Disk filtration system
- Water Recycling system, under construction
- 3 laboratories (200m2):
· A) Ecology laboratory equipped to: multiparameter, spectrophotometer, hydrography equipments, BOD meter, COD meter, endoscope, ultrasonic, digital microscopes and stereo microscopes
· B) Nutrition laboratory equipped to: microfuge, centrifuge, soxhlet, kjeldahl, oven, electric furnace,fur, electric heater
· Molecular Biology laboratory equipped to: -80°C& -30°C freezers, electrophoresis system, PCR, gel documentation, laminar hood, Ben marry, nitrogen tank
Research projects
45 projects (32 published), projects related to IFRO (29), National project (1), Projects requested by NGOs (10), Student projects (5)
a) Cold waterprojects
Topics (Rainbow trout)
Rainbow trout culture in earth ponds under the condition of brackish water in Yazd province
Replacing poultry by-product meal with fish meal in diets for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) rearing in brackish water
Intensive culture of rainbow trout (O. mykiss) in brackish water earth ponds with aeration system
Effects of dietary protein and energy levels on rainbow troutOncorhynchus mykiss reared in brackish water
Application of some corn processed wastes in grower diet of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Limnological survey about brackish water pound culture of rainbow trout
Reuse of wastewater in rainbow trout earth ponds to increase farm production
Effect of feeding times and stocking size on growth and food conversion rate of rainbow trout in brackish water
Comparison evaluation of reproduction results of matured rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) adapted in brackish water with fresh water
Evaluation of different levels of feeding and their effects on growth and FCR in grower rainbow trout in fiberglass tanks under the condition of brackish water in Bafgh station
Quantitative evaluation of rainbow trout, Onchorhynchus mykiss cultured in brackish water and freshwater of Yazd province, at the based on muscle analysis
Utility improvement of brackish water cultural earth ponds of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) through establishing enclosure medium (net pen)
Effect of using dietary synthetic and natural astaxanthin on brood stuck healthy, artificial propagation efficiency and larval stage growth of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchusmykiss)
Comparative study on gonadal development of rainbow trout (O. mykiss) in fresh and brackish water
Main Achievements
Rearing of rainbow trout in underground brackish water for the first time in Iran
Optimum limnological condition for rainbow trout culture.
Determination of requirements, nutritional levels and replacement of ingredients in diet, feeding times and feeding levels in brackish water
Positive effects of aeration, recycling system, photoperiod and stocking size on production of rainbow trout
Better reproduction in brackish water because of faster maturation and the higher gametes and fry quality
Good nutritional quality of reared rainbow trout in Yazd province, whithout heavy metal pollution
b) Live food projects
Topics (Blood worm)
Biotechniques of Chironomid Culture for using in feeding of cultured aquatics
The effect of salinity on biomass and carcass composition of Chironomid larvae (Chironomus aprilinus)
Main Achievements
Identification of the chironomid species
Determination of the best period for egg collection
Making an inventional collector for egg collection
Determination of Chironomid Culture Bio-techniques
c) Warm water projects
Topic (Mugil)
An investigation on adaption and culture ofMugil saliens in inland brackish water of Iran
Main Achievement
Adaptation and culture ofMugil saliens is possible, more studies are needed
Topic (Shrimp)
An investigation on feasibility ofMacrobrachium rosenbergii culture in Brackish Water of Yazd province
Investigation on feasibility of introduction ofLitopenaeus vannamei in shrimp culture industry of Iran
Main Achievement
Adaptation of these crustaceans and economical culture was not successful, additional studies are needed
Topics (Sturgeon)
Study of Beluga (Huso huso) Farming in Brackish Water Earth Pond
Effect of different dietary energy levels on growth performance and sexual gonads development of beluga (Huso huso) reared in brackish water
Comparison of serum enzyme activities in great sturgeon,Huso huso Linnaeus, 1758, cultured in brackish and fresh water earth-ponds of Iran
Brood stocking of cultured Beluga (Huso huso) in Brackish water of Bafq, Yazd
Investigation on gonad development of rearing Beluga (Huso huso) broodstock in underground brackish water, Bafq
Main Achievements
Conservation of sex determinate stock ofHuso huso with average weight of 50 kg (max: 70 kg).
Culture ofHuso huso as a good candidate for rearing in brackish water with faster growth and maturity than fresh water, based on the investigation of growth and physiological characters
High levels of ovocyte maturity according to the histological, endoscopic and ultrasonic investigations of ovary
Topics (Tilapia)
An Investigation on feasibility of introduction of tilapia to aquaculture industry of inland brackish waters at central areas of Iran
The study of adaptation, growth and survival of tilapia(Oreochromis.sp) in Bafgh brackish water
An investigation on breeding and fry production of cultured tilapia in brackish water of Bafgh, Iran
An investigation on all male production of BlackTilapia under the condition of brackishwater in Bafgh
Determine optimal diet for rearing of Black tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in Bafgh brackishwater
Economic study of cultured tilapia in Iran
Environment Impact Assessment of tilapia farming project in brackish water of Bafgh (Yazd)
Raising economical efficiency of tilapia culture (Oreochromissp.) by using the best stocking density in brackish water earthen pond.
Improvement of black tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) diets with replacement of low-cost, native materials
An investigation on supermale production possibility of black tilapia under the condition of brackish water in Bafgh
Optimization of breeding (salinity, light regime, brood density and sex ratio) of cultured tilapia under brackish water of Bafgh, Iran
Cage culture of tilapia in some water resources (farm and agriculture ponds) of Bafq, Iran
Investigate effects of temperature, salinity, light duration, density and cannibalism on growth and survival of tilapia larvae in brackish water, Bafq
Pathogen monitoring in indoor systems of tilapia aquaculture in Bafq, Iran
Investigation of protein energy ratio in rearing all male Nile tilapia diets
Feasibility study and Environment Impact Assessment of tilapia farming in some areas of Yazd province
Designing the zero-exchange water system of tilapia production by using bio-flock technology in brackish water medium
Tilapia culture in aquaponic system
Main Achievements
Successful adaptation and rearing of tilapia in brackish water, in different aquaculture systems
Favorite rearing characters (such as: FCR=1, survival>90%, short culture period, high density)
Good reproduction characters (such as: favorable fequndity, high reproduction frequency, suitable hatching)
Production of all male tilapias
Determination of optimal diet (protein and lipid level) for tilapia culture, diet formulation.
Extensive culture of tilapia (production of 20 ton/hectar in earthen ponds, 30 kg/m3 in concrete ponds)
Cage culture of tilapia (production of 37kg/m3)
Combined production of tilapia and greenhouse vegetables (aquapoinc system)
introduction of tilapia to aquaculture industry (presentation of monosex fries to private farms, activation of warm water farms of the area for the first time)
d) Other Projects:
Study on potential of agriculture underground waters for integrated fish farming
Designing and construction consulting of aquacultural-agricultural ponds
The main achievements ofNational Research Center of Saline Water Aquatics
Introduction of tilapia to aquaculture industry of Iran.
Rearing of tilapia in high density (20 ton/hectare in earthen pond and 30 kg/m3 in concrete pond)
Determination of reproduction biotechniques of tilapia
Determination of all male production of tilapia bio-technique
Diet formulation of tilapia
Combined production of tilapia and greenhouse vegetations (aquapoinc system) for the first time in Iran
Rearing of rainbow trout in underground brackish water for the first time in Iran
Adaptation and rearing of the Beluga,Huso husoin underground brackish water, high gonadal stages
Determination of native live food (Chironomid) production bio-technique
Two registered patents (output of projects), set four claims of invention
More than 110 papers published and presented in magazines and national and international scientific conferences