{
  "slug": "aquaculture-pond-stocking-density",
  "title": "Aquaculture Pond Stocking Density Calculator",
  "heading": "Fish Pond Stocking Density Calculator",
  "category": "other",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/aquaculture-pond-stocking-density",
  "summary": "Fingerling stocking rate and expected harvest biomass for a farm pond.",
  "description": "Overstocking a pond leads to stunted growth and oxygen crashes, while understocking leaves production and pond capacity on the table. This calculator uses a target harvest density in pounds per acre, an expected survival rate, and target individual harvest weight to back into the number of fingerlings to stock, and separately projects total harvest biomass so you can plan feed purchases and market timing before fish go in the water. Channel catfish ponds with aeration commonly target 2,500-5,000 lb/acre production, while unaerated ponds need to stay well under 1,500-2,000 lb/acre to avoid summer oxygen depletion kills.",
  "formula": "Fingerlings to stock = (target harvest lb/acre × acres) ÷ (harvest weight/fish × survival %); harvest biomass = fingerlings × survival % × harvest weight/fish.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=aquaculture-pond-stocking-density",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "acres",
      "label": "Pond surface area",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 5,
      "unit": "acres",
      "min": 0.1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "targetHarvestLbAcre",
      "label": "Target harvest density",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 3000,
      "unit": "lb/acre",
      "min": 200,
      "max": 8000
    },
    {
      "id": "harvestWeightFish",
      "label": "Target individual harvest weight",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 1.2,
      "unit": "lb",
      "min": 0.1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "survivalPct",
      "label": "Expected survival to harvest",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 80,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 30,
      "max": 98
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "fingerlingsNeeded",
      "label": "Fingerlings to stock",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "fingerlingsPerAcre",
      "label": "Stocking rate per acre",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "harvestBiomass",
      "label": "Projected harvest biomass (lb)",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "totalTargetLb",
      "label": "Target total harvest weight (lb)",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Pond surface area: 5 acres",
      "Target harvest density: 3000 lb/acre",
      "Target individual harvest weight: 1.2 lb",
      "Expected survival to harvest: 80 %"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Fingerlings to stock: 15,625",
      "Stocking rate per acre: 3,125",
      "Projected harvest biomass (lb): 15,000",
      "Target total harvest weight (lb): 15,000"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter pond surface area (acres).",
      "Enter target harvest density (lb/acre).",
      "Enter target individual harvest weight (lb).",
      "Enter expected survival to harvest (%).",
      "Read your fingerlings to stock on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "acres": 3,
        "targetHarvestLbAcre": 1800,
        "harvestWeightFish": 0.72,
        "survivalPct": 48
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "acres": 5,
        "targetHarvestLbAcre": 3000,
        "harvestWeightFish": 1.2,
        "survivalPct": 80
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "acres": 8,
        "targetHarvestLbAcre": 4800,
        "harvestWeightFish": 1.92,
        "survivalPct": 98
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.",
    "Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.",
    "Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Why is aeration such a big factor in stocking density?",
      "a": "Fish biomass consumes oxygen proportional to weight, and unaerated ponds rely entirely on natural photosynthesis and surface exchange for oxygen, which caps safe biomass well below what mechanical aeration allows. Adding paddlewheel or diffused aeration can roughly double or triple the safe stocking density for the same pond."
    },
    {
      "q": "What survival rate should I plan for?",
      "a": "Well-managed catfish or tilapia ponds with good fingerling health and predator control commonly see 75-90% survival to harvest, while ponds with bird predation, poor water quality, or disease pressure can see 50-65% or lower — build a buffer into your fingerling order rather than stocking to the exact target."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does species change the target harvest density?",
      "a": "Yes significantly — channel catfish and tilapia tolerate higher stocking densities than largemouth bass or trout, which are more sensitive to crowding stress and water quality. Match target lb/acre to established extension guidelines for your specific species and system type."
    },
    {
      "q": "How does this feed into feed budgeting?",
      "a": "Once you know projected harvest biomass, apply a feed conversion ratio (commonly 1.5-2.2 lb feed per lb of fish gain for warmwater species) against the total weight gain expected from stocking to harvest size to estimate total feed tonnage needed for the season."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/livestock-water-requirement",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/poultry-feed-conversion-cost",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/grazing-carrying-capacity"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Aquaculture Pond Stocking Density Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/aquaculture-pond-stocking-density)"
}