Other suitable sites for cage culture near FCRI should be investigated. These sites should then be studied by obtaining an oxygen/temperature profile daily for a year, with four samples/day being taken twice a month. The data on these physical factors should be a basic priority for all waters to be utilized by FCRI and would always be useful reference data for future aquaculture studies.
Initial investigations indicate that Hungary has sufficient waters to justify the use of cage culture for production, but suitable areas are not nearly so many as those for pond culture. There is also a matter of priorities for bodies of water. For example, Lake Balaton probably would be considered more valuable as an area of recreation rather than fish production. Reservoirs and large irrigation canals might very well be utilized as multipurpose bodies of water, one purpose being cage culture.
During the coming winter, the surface area of waters in Hungary suitable for cage culture should be determined through detailed surveys. Those suitable waters designated for other purposes that preclude fish production should also be noted.
Future research projects utilizing cage culture were discussed with the staff. Problems to be investigated should be selected, based upon the needs of all sections of FCRI, and those needs will change with time and work accomplished. Therefore, it was recommended that specific research projects be selected and designed by the staff based upon techniques of cage culture learned in 1975. However, it was recommended that priorities should include studies of the feasibility of culturing hybrid sturgeon, European catfish, and eels because these fishes have a high market value. Less valuable fishes, such as carp, should be studied in cages principally for research purposes and not commercial production because the cost of production in cages may be too high in relation to returns. Other priorities should include continued testing of genetic strains and feed research.
Cage culture should be used in two different ways; for production of commercial fish and also as an aquaculture method for other research. In Hungary the suitable waters for commercial production appear to be adequate but not over-abundant. However, the exact potential must await results of the survey by the staff. In years to come many different topics will be investigated at the Institute, and cage culture could prove to be more valuable as a research tool than as a production method. However, it is anticipated that both uses will be made of cage culture in the future.
At least one cage of carp should be kept during the autumn, winter and spring to determine how well the fish endure the winter in a cage.
An electric trolling motor is most advantageous for moving the work boat while working with cages. These motors are relatively inexpensive and one should be purchased immediately.
It is probable that some bacterial infections or parasitism will occur during the research and there does not appear to be personnel at FCRI for diagnosis and treatment. However, this problem was noted at the last session of the advisory panel and it is assumed that this deficiency will be corrected in time.
It is recommended that enclosure culture and cage culture, both high density methods, should be grouped together and placed under the direction of a senior staff member who can work in this area full time.
A senior staff member who can work full time with high density fish culture is considered to be essential. The person should have at least one university degree, preferably in biology with some study in aquatic ecology (hydrobiology). Research experience would also be an invaluable asset.
The library should be expanded. There is need for more reference books in basic subjects, such as chemistry, physics, mathematics, biology, ichthyology, etc., and back issues of all pertinent journals should be obtained insofar as possible.
Some reprints were given to Miss Buz to begin a file on cage culture and enclosures. During the coming winter a systematic search of journals and magazines should be conducted and all literature pertinent to the subject should be gathered into an annotated bibliography. Copies of obtainable papers should be added to the field. All papers should be translated into one language, preferably English because of future teaching to persons from other countries.
