Optimal Partial Harvesting Schedule for Aquaculture Operations

When growth is density dependent, partial harvest of the standing stock of cultured species (fish or shrimp) over the course of the growing season (i.e., partial harvesting) would decrease competition and thereby increase individual growth rates and total yield. Existing studies in optimal harvest management of aquaculture operations, however, have not provided a rigorous framework for determining "discrete" partial harvesting (i.e., partially harvest the cultured species at several discrete points until the final harvest). In this paper, we develop a partial harvesting model that is capable of addressing discrete partial harvesting and other partial harvesting using impulsive control theory. We derive necessary conditions of the efficient partial harvesting scheme for a single production cycle. We also present a numerical example to illustrate how partial harvesting can improve the profitability of an aquaculture enterprise compared to single-batch harvesting and gradual thinning. The study results indicate that well-designed partial harvesting schemes can enhance the profitability of aquaculture operations.