HUNGARY
Raising carp and African catďŹ sh in the middle of the Great Hungarian Plain
Using genetics for faster growth In Hungary, a landlocked country, the AkasztĂł Fish Farm has found a proďŹ table combination of pond ďŹ sh farming – integrated in the natural environment – restaurant dining, and facilities for anglers. The family-owned business mixes intensive and extensive techniques and monoculture and polyculture.
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he Akasztó Fish Farm has been in operation for 25 years. During that time, it has increased the initial area of 75 ha to 300 ha today. Its main product is the Akasztó Szikiponty (saline carp). Of the species produced in polyculture with the carp, silver carp and grass carp are the most important economically. They also produce the black carp and Chinese carp. Total carp production is approximately 300 tonnes, of which common carp makes up approximately 80 of production, silver carp about 10, and the remaining species about 10. They also stock pike and different species of bream, as well as other species. The health and quality of the stock are guaranteed by keeping all production in-house, from hatchery to market-sized fish.
The farm’s un-common carp The company is suitably proud of its flagship product, the Akasztó saline carp. With a low fat content and characteristic flavour, the carp’s special qualities are the result of the special, slightly saline pond bed, the production technology, and the result of genetics – the Szarvas B34 hybrid in the paternal line, and a scaly Szarvas breed in the maternal line. It’s a scaly, agile, and aggressive fish. Based on its own research, the company has determined that this hybrid grows at rate approximately 10 better than other breeds. In 2006, it was awarded a Gold Ribbon by the leading chefs of Hungary, and in 2008, the company launched a marketing campaign to promote it. With the help
Jozsef Szabo, the owner and managing director of Akaszto ďŹ sh farm.
of the Ministry of Agriculture, the company applied for a geographical designation for the carp. Hungary has recognised it, and EU recognition is now in progress. Using extensive, semi-intensive technology, they seed the ponds
with organic manure to increase the density of plankton on which the carp feed. Further, they use low stocking densities. From the middle of summer, as the density of the plankton decreases, the fish are gradually harvested, decreasing the fish density. Approximately 2 kg of additional feed are used for each 1 kg of carp meat.
Diversity and creativity are the key to success
The bones in carp ďŹ llets are rendered harmless by making cuts in the ďŹ llet as shown here. 48
According to founder and owner József Szabó, the farm was not at first economically viable because it didn’t produce sufficient fish to serve the consumers throughout the year, thus preventing the development of a strong circle of consumers. In 2002, using EU funds, an angling park and fish restaurant were built. Feeding hungry dinner guests and challenging amateur
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