Aquaculture

Aquaculture, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is known as fish or shellfish farming that refers to the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of plants and animals in all types of water environments including ponds, rivers, lakes, and the ocean. This produces food fish, sport fish, baiting fish, ornamental fish, crustaceans, mollusks, algae, sea vegetables, and fish eggs. There are two types of aquaculture: marine and freshwater aquaculture. 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. This type of aquaculture can take place in the ocean (that is, in cages, on the seafloor, or suspended in a water column) or on in-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. This type of aquaculture takes place primarily in ponds and on in-land manmade systems such as recirculating aquaculture systems.

An example of aquaculture that takes place in Piketon, OH sponsored by The Ohio State University.

(http://cfaes.osu.edu/news/articles/participants-value-ohio-state%E2%80%99s-aquaculture-programs)

Marine aquaculture in the United States contributes to the seafood supply, supports commercial fisheries, restores habitat and at-risk species, and maintains economic activity in coastal communities and at working waterfronts in every coastal state. About 40% of the salmon caught in Alaska and about 80-90% in the Pacific Northwest start their lives in a hatchery - contributing over 270 million dollars to commercial fishery. Hatchery stock is used to rebuild oyster reefs, enhance wild fish populations, and rebuild threatened and endangered abalone and corals.  The Unites States is the leading global importer of fish and fishery products, with 91% of the seafood we eat originating abroad - half of which is from aquaculture. Driven by imports, the U. S. seafood trade deficit has grown over $11.2 billion annually.

In contrast to world capture fisheries production, which has essentially stagnated since the mid-1980's, aquaculture has maintained an annual growth rate of 8.3% worldwide, making it the fastest worldwide growing form of food production in the world. In the United States sales of domestic marine aquaculture have grown on average 13% per year from 2007-2011 led by increases in oyster and salmon production. Global production is dominated by Asia (89%), while China alone accounts for 62%.

An example of aquaculture on the West Coast. 

(http://www.rafts.org.uk/aquaculture/)

The World Wildlife Organization has identified that farmed fish and shrimp as priority commodities, because collectively, they represent the largest share of global farmed seafood market. Consequently, they can have a significant negative impact on the places and species we seek to protect. The rapid expansion of the aquaculture industry has not come without impacts. As a conservation organization the WWF is concerned about the negative effects the industry has had - and will continue to have - on the environment and the society. Approximately 85% of the world's marine stocks are either fully exploited or overfished, driving accelerated growth in the farmed seafood industry.