Aquaculture

Aquaculture, farming of aquatic organisms in fresh, brackish or salt water. A wide variety of aquatic organisms are produced through aquaculture, including fishes, crustaceans, mollusks, algae, and aquatic plants. Unlike capture fisheries, aquaculture requires deliberate human intervention in the organisms' productivity and results in yields that exceed those from the natural environment alone. Stocking water with seed (juvenile organisms), fertilizing the water, feeding the organisms, and maintaining water quality are common examples of such intervention.

Most aquacultural crops are destined for human consumption. However, aquaculture also produces bait fishes, ornamental or aquarium fishes, aquatic animals used to augment natural populations for capture and sport fisheries (see Fishing), algae used for chemical extraction, and pearl oysters and mussels, among others.

Aquaculture is considered an agricultural activity, despite the many differences between aquaculture and terrestrial agriculture. Aquaculture mainly produces protein crops, while starchy staple crops are the primary products of terrestrial agriculture. In addition, terrestrial animal waste can be disposed of off-site, whereas in aquaculture such waste accumulates in the culture environment. Consequently, aquaculturists must carefully manage their production units to ensure that water quality does not deteriorate and become stressful to the culture organisms.