The estimation of the economic size of the aquaculture holding expressed in terms of european size units

Aquaculture has more parallels with agriculture than with fishing. Therefore, the methodological principles for calculating the economic size of aquaculture holding have been framed according the methodological principles for calculating the economic size of the agriculture holding. The economic size of the holding is calculated from the standard gross margin (SGM) and expressed in terms of European Size Units (ESU). The SGM for aquaculture production have been calculated using average basic data of the Lithuanian aquaculture enterprises on their income and cost over a period of two years (2007–2008). It has been calculated that the SGM for the fish farmed in the aquaculture ponds is equal to 1740 Lt per hectare and the SGM for the fish farmed in the recirculating aquaculture systems is equal 2684 Lt per cubic metre. The total SGM of the pond aquaculture holding is calculated by multiplying the SGM for the fish farmed in the aquaculture ponds by area of the aquaculture pond and the total SGM of the recirculating aquaculture system is calculated by multiplying the SGM for the fish farmed in the recirculating aquaculture systems by size of the recirculating aquaculture tank. The economic size of the aquaculture holding is obtained by dividing the total standard gross margin of the holding by 1 ESU (1200 EUR or 4143,36 Lt).