"We must plant the seas and herd its animals using the sea as farmers instead of hunters. That is what civilization is all about - farming replacing hunting"
- Jacques Cousteau
What is Aquaculture?
Aquaculture, or seafood farming, is the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of fish, shellfish, algae, and other organisms in all types of water environments, as defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Aquaculture can be used for many purposes, including the production of food, habitat restoration, and rebuilding populations of threatened species.
An increase in demand for seafood and improvements in technology have allowed for the growth of food in coastal marine environments, open ocean enclosures, and even land-based facilities. The two main types of aquaculture are marine and freshwater aquaculture. In the U.S., marine species grown include fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants that support both food supply and commercial fisheries. Freshwater species grown in the U.S. include fish such as catfish and trout.
The History of Aquaculture:
An Ancient Practice,
A Modern Solution
Aquaculture is believed to have begun over 2,000 years ago in China. For hundreds of years it was practiced by families and communities as a way to provide food. Over the last four to five decades, aquaculture has become a widespread commercialized production as the wild fish populations become depleted in our oceans. The world surge in production pushed the annual output of 4.7 million tons in 1980 to 80 million tons in 2016. Aquaculture is currently the fastest growing food production sector in the world, with an average 5.8% growth rate in the last 15 years. By 2030, farm raised seafood is expected to produce 109 million tons of fish.
​
Due to its explosive growth over the last five decades, aquaculture has been the subject of increasing environmental awareness and public concern about the quality of the seafood produced. The topics of food safety and quality, their potential health impacts, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare are at the forefront of the public's focus on aquaculture. These insecurities around environmental, safety, and social features of aquaculture productions, along with the dependence of developing counties on aquaculture, has attracted negative media coverage in previous decades.
​
Despite a rocky start, the aquaculture industry has made huge strides to enhance practices to support both policy makers and stakeholders. Producers have taken a more in-depth approach to choosing locations and species for their businesses and building more sustainable systems. Technological innovations have been adapted to improve water use efficiency and decrease the overall environmental impact of aquaculture. Now more than ever, consumers are encouraged to research where and how their food is being farmed to ensure the support of sustainable producers.