Small-Scale Pond Aquaculture under Climate Variability – Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Management
The recent winter became a serious test for many small water bodies and fish populations across Latvia. Following the melting of the ice cover in spring, the situation in ponds appeared highly uneven: while some ponds experienced relatively successful overwintering conditions, others suffered significant fish mortality. Shallow and overgrown water bodies proved particularly vulnerable, as oxygen depletion develops more rapidly under prolonged ice cover.
Such situations highlight broader issues related to climate variability, the resilience of small aquatic ecosystems, and the need for knowledge-based pond management. Winter fish mortality is rarely caused by a single factor alone; rather, it usually results from a combination of processes, including long-lasting ice cover, decomposition of organic matter, limited water exchange, and insufficient aeration.
From the perspective of sustainable aquaculture, preventive management becomes particularly important. Practical experience demonstrates that timely aeration before critical conditions emerge can significantly improve fish survival during winter. This underlines the importance of viewing small-scale pond farming not only as seasonal fish production but also as year-round ecosystem management.
At the same time, the beginning of spring raises broader questions about local food production and self-sufficiency. In Latvia, increasing attention is being paid to the idea of using household ponds not only for recreation but also for fish production intended for personal consumption. Such approaches reflect wider European discussions on shorter food supply chains, local production systems, and more sustainable food practices.
In small-scale aquaculture, selecting fish species suited to specific environmental conditions remains essential. Water temperature, oxygen availability, and pond depth strongly influence whether cold-water or warm-water species are more appropriate for a given pond. This demonstrates that sustainable pond aquaculture cannot rely on universal solutions but instead requires adaptive management tailored to local ecological conditions.
Resource efficiency is another increasingly important consideration. Modern feeding strategies can improve fish growth while simultaneously reducing nutrient loading into water bodies, thereby lowering environmental pressure. As a result, discussions on small-scale aquaculture increasingly extend beyond production itself and include water quality, ecosystem resilience, and local food security.
These issues will be addressed during the seminar “Zivju dīķis kā mazdārziņš: Seminārs pašpatēriņa zivju audzētājiem” (“Fish Pond as a Kitchen Garden: Seminar for Fish Growers for Self-Consumption”), which will take place on 28 April 2025 in Valmiera Municipality at Rūjiena Folk School (Skolas Street 8a, Rūjiena) and is organized by the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Center together with the Fisheries Cooperation Network. The seminar will focus on practical pond management solutions, fish production models, seasonal management challenges, and approaches to more sustainable development of small-scale aquaculture. More information about the seminar is available here.
In the context of the AQUA4DEV-BS project, such examples contribute to a broader understanding of the role of traditional and small-scale inland aquaculture in the Baltic region. They emphasize the need for integrated governance approaches that strengthen local food system resilience, encourage public engagement, and respect the ecological limits of aquatic ecosystems.
The information has been prepared in the framework of Activity 1.1.1.9 “Post-doctoral Research” of the Specific Objective 1.1.1 “Strengthening research and innovative capacities and introduction of advanced technologies in the common R&D system” of the European Union’s Cohesion Policy Programme for 2021-2027 research application No.1.1.1.9/LZP/2/25/218 “Potential of traditional and recirculation inland aquaculture for inclusive and intelligent fisheries development in the Baltic States (AQUA4DEV-BS)”.