The purpose of the project will be the production and breeding of Catfish in industrial scale.  Additional species of fish like the Ctenopharyngodon Idella and Hypophtalmichthys Nobilis wil be investigated in a pilot project for maintenance  of the ponds.

At the beginning of the project production and reproduction will be based in importing spawn and /or fingerlings from USA and Europe. Proper developing of facilities and methods, adapted at the local conditions, will allow own breeding. Scientific support from universities in the USA is available. The selected species is highly suitable for raising within the prevailing conditions.

Raising of the fish will be carried out in shallow ponds (depth <4 ft.). Fish feed will be imported at the beginning. Anyway, natural feed growing in the ponds is suitable for the other fish apart from catfish. The catfish population as main species will mainly be fed by “artificial” fish feed, meanwhile natural growing nutrition in the ponds is considered neglectable.

Anyway, the process of production has to be carried out very carefully, as some species of algae can cause the final product being “off-flavor”.

As a fact, the northern coast of the Hispaniola Island is situated in the region of the alisian winds. Therefore, within a midterm planning, energy will be generated by means of wind turbines. As energy is considered as a factor of great influence in cost calculation, switching from fossil energy to wind energy can contribute in considerable reduction of costs.

Fish is reaching market size between 6 and 9 months and will be offered to the customer entire, clean on ice. Filleting the fish will be considered. There is no intention for entering in the market of deep frozen products.

   -Existing conditions for execution of the project are:

   -Availability of 200 ha of suitable land, 40 km from Santo Domingo
    with extension possibilities.

   -Water ressources in quantity and quality without toxic components

   -Permits of the authorities concerned

Preliminary construction properties of the project:

   -52 breeding and raising ponds (1.5 – 2 ha each)

   -Hydraulic infrastructure

   -Additional spawning ponds (near future)

   -Buildings for operation and maintenance (600m2)

   -drilled wells with pumping station

   -3 anaerobic reactors for production of bio gas (near future)

As sweet water fish is not very common as an element of daily diet in the Dominican Republic, the study suggests the execution of a pilot project in the beginning. The annual production will be in the range of 514 metric tons. This led to the economically acceptable minimum size of the plant.

The results of a market study indicate that local market should not be considered and as a target group of consumers, tourism industry is recommended. Nevertheless the market study has to be actualized at the beginning of the project.

In the tourist industry of the Dominican Republic actually more than 57000 “beds” are available. The country has received in 2005 about 3.3 millions of tourists. These tourists, accommodated in hotels, are considered as potential consumers of the product. The actual demand is estimated in more than 2.5 millions kg/year and is covered up to 90 % by imported deep-frozen products mainly from Chile, Canada and Europe.

But the results of an analysis of the market are showing, that customers a preferring fresh products. Therefore there will be no doubt, the fresh products will substitute in a wide range the imported products and acceptance in the market can be assured.

Considering the fact that fish raising in the Dominican Republic has reached at the most trade level, high quality products and reliable production and delivery constitutes a great advantage over the competition.

Another advantage in comparison with the USA is the fact that the average temperatures in the production zone never are below 20 °C, so that a continuous production can be guaranteed. Nevertheless, this fact wasn’t taken in consideration within the assessment of risks.

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Financial needs for initiating the project are estimated for the first 24 months with a sum of minimal investment of US$ 6,895,570. US$ 4,314,082 are covering the costs of infrastructure. Meanwhile US$ 2,005,763 are considered as the working capital for the first seventeen months. US$ 575,724 are foreseen as contingencies. Up to date already 312,000 US$ have been invested in the project by means of the feasibility study, so that actual needs are only US$ 6,583,570.

Considering, that after the first seventeen months of running the project, an income from sales is possible, the external financial needs for the project are arising to only US$ 5,127,143.

As there is a very considerable effect of scale in the economy of the project (the bigger the production area, the cheaper will be the unit price) a planning of politics of economy will be that way, that at the beginning, say during the first 3 to 4 years of business, small financial losses within marginal areas will be allowed. Optimization of production and increase of production area within the following years, will then allow politics of economy which will lead the enterprise definitely in economically positive zones. Nevertheless, calculations are carried out that way, which from the very beginning complete costs for capital can be covered. Therefore, from the very beginning and on a long-term bases positive development for invested capital can be guaranteed.