How to Harvest Fish in a Pond

Many people prefer to raise fish in a pond for harvesting. This is known as aquaculture. The fish that are harvested this way are then used for bait and food, kept as pets, or transferred to another pond or sold. You will know that your fish need harvesting when the tiny tadpoles grow into proper fish, which is when it is time to get them out of the pond. The advantages of growing fish in a pond is that it offers a controlled environment.

Things You'll Need

  • Nets
  • Seines
  • Harvest tank
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Instructions

    • 1

      Drain the pond. The less water in the pond, the easier it will be for you to harvest fish as you will have to seine less water. If your pond has been made specifically for the purpose of raising fish, it should have a valve or pipe that, when turned, allows you to slowly drain water out of the pond. As the water drains out, you should catch it in the harvesting tanks. This will prevent fish from dying from the shock of the water draining.

    • 2

      Drain the water for a few days. You can stop draining when about one half of the water has been removed and you can walk in the pond with water reaching only half of your body.

    • 3

      Walk along the side of the pond holding the seine, while a friend also holds onto it, moving down the other side.

    • 4

      Lift up the seine immediately after you run it through the water and start removing fish with nets. Deposit these fish in your harvesting tanks, which you should keep ready. Transfer them immediately, as fish without water will start to die.

    • 5

      Drain the water once more, until you are left with approximately one quarter of the water. Seine the water again and this time you will be able to harvest most of the remaining fish. Transfer these fish to harvesting tanks as well.

    • 6

      Drain the rest of the water. Stay attentive, as you should be able to dip out fish quickly as the pond drains completely. Transfer these fish to the harvesting tanks as well.