Fish culture in stillwater ponds has a long tradition in Europe. The area of carp ponds amounts to more than 300 000 ha, and inclusive Belarus, the Ukraine and the Russian Federation this area is more than 500 000 ha. Main cultured fish species is the common carp, and total European production of market size common carp (without the states of the former USSR) comes to about 70 000 t. Average yield is, therefore, very low (200-300 kg/ha). Other cultured species in these ponds (e.g. silver carp or grass carp) are only of secondary importance.

Stillwater pond management is an environment-friendly sustainable industry and has a large potential for producing valuable and wholesome foodstuffs. However, the market for common carp is limited in Europe.

Measures for optimising aquaculture in stillwater ponds, boosting its economic viability and maintenance of competitiveness include species diversification, rationalisation of production by technological advances, improving feeds and feeding, selection of common carp and other cultured species, control of diseases, compiling better statistical information, promoting market development, managing of angling ponds, improving the image of fish culture in ponds and extending of applied research.

Dr. agr. habil. Werner Steffens was head of the Department of Pond Culture and Fish Diseases of the Institute of Inland Fishery from 1966 to 1991 and head of the Department of Fish Culture and Fish Pathology of the Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries in Berlin from 1991 to 1996. Since 1984, professor for fish culture and fish nutrition at the Humboldt University, Berlin. 1997 visiting professor for fish nutrition at the University of the Philippines. Today he is committee member of the German Fisheries Association and vice-president of the German Anglers Association.

Contact details: Eitelsdorfer Str. 32, D-12555 Berlin, Germany. Phone and Fax: +49-30-6561390.
E-mail: w.l.steffens@t-online.de