Fish farming, also known as aquaculture, is the practice of raising aquatic animals or plants in a controlled environment It is a relatively new practice, having only become widespread in the 20th century, but it has quickly become one of the most important fishing and food production industries in the world. Unlike wild fishing, aquaculture provides a reliable and sustainable source of fish, as well as other aquatic products such as crustaceans, mollusks, and aquatic plants.
The five best examples of fish farming are:
1. Offshore cage farming: This approach involves placing large cages made of metal or netting in open ocean water, typically over a wide area. Fish are stocked in the cages, and then monitored and maintained until they reach a certain size or age. This method is used for species that can’t be kept in freshwater tanks.
2. Pond farming: Fish farmers create small, shallow ponds which they stock with fingerlings of a desired species. Once the fish grow to the desired size, they are harvested and sold. Ponds are often fertilized to increase productivity.
3. Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS): RAS systems are closed-loop tanks that are designed to allow fish to be raised in a smaller space than in a traditional tank. The tanks are monitored and maintained to maintain the right fish population, water chemistry, and other variables.
4. Aquaponics: This method combines aquaculture with hydroponics, allowing fish waste to be used to fertilize and grow plants. The plants in turn filter the water for the fish, creating a sustainable and self-sustaining system.
5. Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA): This method involves combining aquaculture and traditional mariculture, using multiple species of fish and organisms to produce a greater yield of harvest. The various species interact to create a self-sustaining ecosystem.