Open AccessVENTURE ANALYSES FOR A PROPOSED COMMERCIAL WASTE HEAT AQUACULTURE FACILITY
Author(s) -
Guerra Carlos R.,
Resh Robert E.,
Godfriaux Bruce L.,
Stephens Carol A.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
proceedings of the world mariculture society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.655
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1749-7345
pISSN - 0748-3260
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-7345.1979.tb00005.x
Subject(s) - profitability index , benefit–cost ratio , aquaculture , investment (military) , fishery , business , return on investment , finance , agricultural science , environmental science , production (economics) , economics , net present value , biology , fish <actinopterygii> , politics , political science , law , macroeconomics
Data on the development and operating costs for a proposed commercial waste heat aquaculture facility dedicated to culture two species on a diseasonal sequence are presented in this paper. The facility would be located at the Mercer Generating Station, a coal‐fired electric power plant, near Trenton, New Jersey. The concept of reliability indices associated with each of the principal cost and income elements of the proposed aquaculture facility is also introduced. Plots of Return‐on‐Investment vs economic factors and reliability indices are used to depict the venture profitability and confidence of success expected with some of the aquaculture species being studied and the production plans under consideration. Rainbow trout ( Salmo gairdneri [Richardson]) is the principal income‐producing species at the present time and channel catfish ( Ictalurus punctatus [Rafinesque]) is being tested as the warm weather species. High density culture experiments with freshwater shrimp ( Macrobrachium rosenbergii [de Man]) have not met the criteria for profitability to date; however, because of the market potential for this species, additional studies are underway. Return‐on‐investment analyses were run by varying the principal parameters determining the profitability of a commercial venture. These included the culture species, production density, plant size and useful life, processing facilities, sale price of products and type of financing for venture. The project is jointly sponsored by the National Science Foundation (Division of Problem Focused Research Applications) and PSE&G Company. The venture analyses are based on experimental studies being conducted by Trenton State College and Rutgers University.