This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
Sidney Draggan Ph.D.
What Is … Aquaculture?
The term aquaculture broadly refers to the cultivation of aquatic organisms in controlled aquatic environments for any commercial, recreational or public purpose. The breeding, rearing and harvesting of plants and animals takes place in all types of water environments including ponds, rivers, lakes, the ocean, and man-made “closed” systems on land.
Aquaculture serves many purposes including:
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Food production for human consumption;
-
Rebuilding of populations of threatened and endangered species;
-
Habitat restoration;
-
Wild stock enhancement;
-
Production of baitfish; and
-
Fish culture for zoos and aquariums.
It is one of the fastest growing forms of food production in the world. Because harvest from many wild fisheries has peaked globally, aquaculture is widely recognized as an effective way to meet the seafood demands of a growing population.
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Marine aquaculture refers specifically to the culturing of oceanic species (as opposed to freshwater). Examples of marine aquaculture production include oysters, clams, mussels, shrimp, salmon and algae. Marine aquaculture is just 20 percent of U.S. production, consisting mostly of shellfish (e.g., oysters, clams and mussels).
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Freshwater aquaculture includes trout, catfish and tilapia. About 70 percent of aquaculture in the United States is freshwater farming of catfish and trout. Only a handful of U.S. farms grow marine finfish such as salmon in Maine and Washington State and yellowtail and Pacific threadfin (moi) in Hawaii.
Longlines used for mussel aquaculture. Source: NOAA.
Click for larger image.
Aquaculture produces almost half of the seafood consumed by humans globally, a trend that continues to increase. The United States is a major consumer of aquaculture products — we import 84 percent of our seafood, and half of that is from aquaculture — yet we are a minor producer. In fact, U.S. aquaculture (both freshwater and marine) supplies about 5 percent of the U.S. seafood supply, and U.S. marine aquaculture supplies less than 1.5 percent.
It is vital that the United States further develop its own sustainable aquaculture industry, both to reduce its annual $9 billion annual seafood import deficit and to keep pace with the growing demand for seafood.
Learn more: NOAA’s Aquaculture Program is dedicated to fostering safe, sustainable aquaculture in collaboration with other NOAA offices including NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and NOAA’s National Ocean Service.
Editorial note: This article was written in collaboration with NOAA aquaculture expert Dr. Michael Rubino, NOAA Aquaculture Program.
Posted Feb. 9, 2011
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Citation
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-Earth Syste (Lead Author);National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Content Source);Sidney Draggan Ph.D. (Topic Editor) "What Is Aquaculture?". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth February 24, 2011; Last revised Date July 12, 2012; Retrieved May 19, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/What_Is_Aquaculture?topic=49535>
The Author
The Earth System Research Laboratory's mission is to observe and understand the Earth system and to develop products through a commitment to research that will advance the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) environmental information and services on global-to-local scales.The work at the Earth System Research Laboratory includes: understanding the roles of gases and particles that contribute to climate change, providing climate information related to water mana ... (Full Bio)
What Is … Aquaculture?
The term aquaculture broadly refers to the cultivation of aquatic organisms in controlled aquatic environments for any commercial, recreational or public purpose. The breeding, rearing and harvesting of plants and animals takes place in all types of water environments including ponds, rivers, lakes, the ocean, and man-made “closed” systems on land.
Aquaculture serves many purposes including:
-
Food production for human consumption;
-
Rebuilding of populations of threatened and endangered species;
-
Habitat restoration;
-
Wild stock enhancement;
-
Production of baitfish; and
-
Fish culture for zoos and aquariums.
It is one of the fastest growing forms of food production in the world. Because harvest from many wild fisheries has peaked globally, aquaculture is widely recognized as an effective way to meet the seafood demands of a growing population.
-
Marine aquaculture refers specifically to the culturing of oceanic species (as opposed to freshwater). Examples of marine aquaculture production include oysters, clams, mussels, shrimp, salmon and algae. Marine aquaculture is just 20 percent of U.S. production, consisting mostly of shellfish (e.g., oysters, clams and mussels).
-
Freshwater aquaculture includes trout, catfish and tilapia. About 70 percent of aquaculture in the United States is freshwater farming of catfish and trout. Only a handful of U.S. farms grow marine finfish such as salmon in Maine and Washington State and yellowtail and Pacific threadfin (moi) in Hawaii.
Longlines used for mussel aquaculture. Source: NOAA.
Click for larger image.
Aquaculture produces almost half of the seafood consumed by humans globally, a trend that continues to increase. The United States is a major consumer of aquaculture products — we import 84 percent of our seafood, and half of that is from aquaculture — yet we are a minor producer. In fact, U.S. aquaculture (both freshwater and marine) supplies about 5 percent of the U.S. seafood supply, and U.S. marine aquaculture supplies less than 1.5 percent.
It is vital that the United States further develop its own sustainable aquaculture industry, both to reduce its annual $9 billion annual seafood import deficit and to keep pace with the growing demand for seafood.
Learn more: NOAA’s Aquaculture Program is dedicated to fostering safe, sustainable aquaculture in collaboration with other NOAA offices including NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and NOAA’s National Ocean Service.
Editorial note: This article was written in collaboration with NOAA aquaculture expert Dr. Michael Rubino, NOAA Aquaculture Program.
Posted Feb. 9, 2011
Are you absolutely sure you want to delete this article? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.
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Mussel harvesting in Shelton, Wash. Source: NOAA.
Longlines used for mussel aquaculture. Source: NOAA.
2 Comments
Add Commentjharna thomas wrote:
Aquaculture is the cultivation of freshwater and marine animals. It is supposed to have begun over 4000 years with farming freshwater carp in China. However, aquaculture is practiced worldwide, the production of many species of fish, crustaceans, algae and plants. A variety of methods of cultivation are used, depending on location and what is produced - from sea cages, ponds and reservoirs floating rope. Aquaculture currently produces half of the seafood in the world and is about to exceed wild fisheries as a source of fish. http://www.whatisguide.net/1230-aquaculture.html
Bryan steopher wrote:
Aquaculture and aquaculture systems play a very important role in increasing the produce. Various systems and machinery are used for this oceanic farming, and these instruments as a whole are known as aquaculture systems. http://www.whatisall.com/business-insight/what-is-aquaculture.html