Over twenty years ago trout farming had reached its peak of development
. Although not so attractive as a major development these days there is still scope for creating a sideline business for somebody with access to the appropriate resources.For a mainstream trout farm investment it is necessary to look for a production unit capable of producing at least two to three hundred tons each year in order to make the investment worth while. Unfortunately there are no longer any suitable sites available that would support this level of production and any that are still undeveloped would likely be more suitable for more profitable enterprises these days.However, for landowners or persons with access to a small plot of land, which need be no more than an acre in size, and a suitable water supply, it is possible to develop a lucrative side line business farming trout.It is critical that the water supply is of a sufficient and constant flow every day of the year. If the supply is erratic or dries up in the summer it is useless, as it would be if prone to the dumping of chemical fertilizers upstream by the local farmer!To get started most economically it is possible to dig simple earth ponds in the Danish style and fit them with inlets and outlets formed from treated timber. Alternatively you can install prefabricated sluices made from fiber glass. You can buy these from aquaculture supply merchants. The ponds should be filled and checked carefully for flow and integrity before fish are stocked. These will be added to the ponds one or more times a year from good quality hatcheries.The ponds will be covered with netting to keep predatory herons and cormorants out and also have automatic fish feeders attached. You can get them made by a local fabricator or buy them from a fish farm equipment supplier. An appropriate size of trout pellet must be added to them on a regular basis. The pellets can be obtained from trout food manufacturers by the ton or in sacks.The fish will take 12 to 18 months to grow to a portion size and may need grading along the way as trout tend to grow at different rates. When ready for harvesting the biggest will be graded out and the rest allowed to grow again until the next harvest date. Thus a smooth and regular output can be obtained.For any landowner or person with access to a plot of land with a spring or stream setting up a modest trout farm business can provide a valuable side line income to any existing businesses.