Fish farming in the Rocky Mountains
Mick Eldstrom started fish farming after a friend in Calgary set up his own fish farm, reports Darryl Crane of the Invermere Valley Echo, based in the eastern British Columbia town of Invermere in the Canadian Rockies;
As a gift for helping him out, his friend gave him a tank and some fish and Mick has never looked back. Those few fish have continued to breed over the years and now Mick has enough that he supplies meals for himself and his family. He also shares his fish with friends and neighbours whenever the chance arises. He never thought the expansion would ever get as big as it is now. “I though I would have a little batch but after we ate the first lot I realized the fish were too big for the tank I had. So I started to expand to let them grow.”Mick thinks there are many benefits to growing your own fish in a farm. “It is that home diet. We know what the fish are eating. It is also part of a hydroponics where in the summertime the waste water can be used in the garden and plants. It is very environmentally friendly,” he said. Mick has a basil plant grown in the farm area that has grown much larger than normal which he believes is due to the water that is being recycled. When asked about the quality of the fish he said, “The meat is good. It is a light fish.”Mick admits with so many fish in the house that it has become a staple part of his diet. Mick still admits that he is always learning about how to be a better breeder. He already has helped set up a tank in Invermere and is hoping to get another in the botanical gardens in Invermere. After doing this for 6 years he can see himself without the tanks because he would like to spend a little more time away which he will not be able to do while he owns the tanks. Overall he still enjoys looking after the fish and sees how it has been a positive hobby to have taken up.
