Aquaculture
Definition
Aquaculture, also known as fish farming, is the cultivation of aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants in controlled environments. It involves raising these organisms for food production or conservation purposes.
Analogy
Think of aquaculture as an underwater farm where farmers grow fish instead of crops. They provide a safe and controlled environment for the fish to grow and reproduce, just like how traditional farmers care for their land-based animals.
Related terms
Fish feed: Nutritional substances provided to farmed fish to meet their dietary requirements. It can include pellets or formulated diets containing essential nutrients.
Mariculture: A specialized form of aquaculture that focuses on cultivating marine organisms such as seaweed, oysters, or shrimp in coastal areas or open ocean waters.
Overfishing: The act of catching too many fish from a population beyond its sustainable level. This can lead to depletion of fish stocks and disrupt marine ecosystems.
"Aquaculture" appears in:
Subjects (2)
Study guides (1)
Additional resources (2)
Practice Questions (6)
- What is aquaculture?
- Why is aquaculture considered an important source of food and income for communities around the world?
- What is one benefit of aquaculture?
- What is a potential risk of aquaculture in terms of disease transmission?
- What is a potential economic benefit of aquaculture?
- What is one way in which aquaculture can help conserve endangered fish species?
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