Land-based farming can refer to recirculating aquaculture systems, or even inland ponds used for freshwater aquaculture. Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) reuse and filter water to reduce the amount of waste water produced by the farm, creating a lower environmental impact through low water usage. These systems are viewed as the key to future, more sustainable aquaculture farms because of their ability to integrate technology and combine with other agriculture production, such as produce, through integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) practices. 

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Inland ponds used for freshwater aquaculture are used to grow shrimp and fish in many areas of the world. The dimensions of these ponds are crafted to best raise each species, but they are generally shallow and can easily be drained for harvest. The two main types of pond culture systems are watershed and levee systems. Levee ponds are common throughout the Mississippi Delta region where tens of thousands of acres of ponds are used for culturing catfish, the United States' top produced aquaculture species.