What Is Aquaculture and Why Is It Important?

Aquaculture — the practice of farming food in the oceans — is expanding rapidly around the world. Today, it is the fastest growing form of food production. Finding a way to produce healthy food without damaging marine ecosystems is a challenge the world faces, and work is underway to help aquaculture positively contribute to the health of the world’s oceans. The future of aquaculture is a passion of many of today’s organisations and individuals, including Nishat Gupte.

What Is Aquaculture?

Aquaculture is both the farming and husbandry of marine and freshwater animals and plants. Whilst its primary purpose is food production, the practice can also provide bait, algae, and animal feed. Aquaculture is like agriculture, in that both practices carefully select areas that will help the farmed organisms flourish. For aquaculture, the most important factors are temperature, salinity, and fertility.

How Does Aquaculture Work?

The exact process used will vary depending on the species. However, there are generally four stages to the production chain. These four stages are: hatchery, feed mills, farming, and processing.

The first stage of aquaculture is the hatchery. During this stage, fish (for example) are bred, hatched, and reared through the early stages of life. Once the fish are mature enough, they are moved to the farms, where they grow to harvest size using the feed produced at feed mills. Beyond the farm, the fish are transferred to a processing facility before being sold in stores.

Why Is Aquaculture Important?

Overfishing means that the oceans cannot supply enough fish to keep up with the demand of the growing human population. Aquaculture can fill in the gap of seafood supply and emits less greenhouse gas than other types of farming.

Estimates show that by 2050, the planet will be home to ten billion people. Demand for animal protein will increase by 52%, so finding sustainable approaches to feeding the population is more critical than ever before.

If aquaculture is practiced in an environmentally friendly, socially responsible manner that considers both food safety and animal welfare, it has the potential to improve the health of both the planet and the population.