Aquaculture also known as fish or shellfish farming refers to
the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of plants and animals in all types
of water environments including ponds, rivers, lakes, and the ocean.
Researchers and aquaculture producers are "farming" all kinds of
freshwater and marine species of fish, shellfish, and plants.
Aquaculture produces food fish, sport fish, bait fish, ornamental fish,
crustaceans, mollusks, algae, sea vegetables, and fish eggs.
Aquaculture
includes the production of seafood from hatchery fish and shellfish
which are grown to market size in ponds, tanks, cages, or raceways.
Stock restoration or "enhancement" is a form of aquaculture in which
hatchery fish and shellfish are released into the wild to rebuild wild
populations or coastal habitats such as oyster reefs. Aquaculture also
includes the production of ornamental fish for the aquarium trade, and
growing plant species used in a range of food, pharmaceutical,
nutritional, and biotechnology products.
Marine aquaculture
refers to the culturing of species that live in the ocean. U.S. marine
aquaculture primarily produces oysters, clams, mussels, shrimp, and
salmon as well as lesser amounts of cod, moi, yellowtail, barramundi,
seabass, and seabream. Marine aquaculture can take place in the ocean
(that is, in cages, on the seafloor, or suspended in the water column)
or in on-land, manmade systems such as ponds or tanks. Recirculating
aquaculture systems that reduce, reuse, and recycle water and waste can
support some marine species.
Freshwater aquaculture produces species that are native to rivers, lakes, and streams. U.S. freshwater aquaculture is dominated
by catfish but also produces trout, tilapia, and bass. Freshwater
aquaculture takes place primarily in ponds and in on-land, manmade
systems such as recirculating aquaculture systems.
As
the nation's oceans agency, NOAA and its Office of Aquaculture focus on
marine aquaculture, although research and advancement in technology can
be more broadly applied. Continued advances in technology and
management practices are expanding aquaculture's potential role in
producing a variety of species for both restoration and commercial purposes.
By
Reshma P
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