What is Aquaculture?

Aquaculture, also known as fish or shellfish farming, encompasses the cultivation, nurturing, and harvesting of a diverse array of plants and animals within various aquatic environments, including ponds, rivers, lakes, and even the open ocean. Researchers and aquaculture practitioners engage in the “farming” of a wide spectrum of freshwater and marine species, including fish, shellfish, and plants.

The scope of aquaculture extends to the production of food fish, sport fish, bait fish, ornamental fish, crustaceans, mollusks, algae, sea vegetables, and fish eggs. It involves raising hatchery fish and shellfish from infancy to market size in settings such as ponds, tanks, cages, or raceways. Additionally, aquaculture encompasses stock restoration or “enhancement,” a practice where hatchery-raised fish and shellfish are released into the natural environment to replenish wild populations or restore coastal habitats like oyster reefs.