The Optimal Feeding of Farmed Fish

Optimal feeding schedules and harvesting policies for a fish farm are examined. It is shown that if fish growth is density independent, then the culling of fish before the final slaughter date need not be part of the optimal harvest plan. As well, a number of results are derived concerning the effect of changes in discount rates, mortality rates, various types of cost and fish prices on the optimal slaughter weight and date. These results are compared to those in Bjørndal (1988) where feeding rates were exogenous.