Basic Knowledge in Agriculture #41
Discuss Aquaculture
Aquaculture means the controlled cultivation of aquatic organisms like fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants for ornamental trade, restoration, and other commercial purposes. In a simple word, it means fish farming that involves many species that are beyond fish. Aquaculture plays a role in the following ways:
Food security, which supplies high-quality protein to meet the needs of a growing population.
Economic growth that creates jobs in both rural and coastal areas.
Environmental restoration that helps rebuild depleted fish.
Discuss the types of Aquaculture
Aquaculture can be classified based on the environment or production methods.
Based on Environment
Based on the environment, we have freshwater aquaculture which uses rivers, tanks, ponds, and lakes. Common species of freshwater aquaculture are: catfish, trout, tilapia, and carp.
Also, the marine culture that is conducted in oceans, coastal areas, or bays. Common species include seaweed, mussels, and salmon. Also, the Brackish water aquaculture uses water with salinity between that of fresh and seawater. Common species are crabs, milkfish, and prawns.
Based on Production Method:
- Cage culture, in which fish are grown in floating cages in open water.
- Raceway culture, in which water flows through channels or tanks.
- Recirculating agriculture system, which is an indoor system where water is filtered and reused.
Talk about the challenges encountered in Aquaculture and the solutions to those problems
| Challenge | Description | Possible Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Disease outbreak | bacteria, viruses, and parasites can destroy large stocks | improve vaccination programs, biosecurity, and quality of water. |
| Water pollution | Uneaten feed and water can degrade the quality of water | Adopt better feeding practices to regulate water and recycle waste |
| Overuse of antibiotics | Leads to food safety concern and resistant bacteria | Promote vaccination natural remedies and disease prevention through good management |