Aquaculture

What Does Aquaculture Mean?

Aquaculture is the practice of growing aquatic animals and plants for food.

The advantage of aquaculture over commercial fishing or gathering wild aquatic plants is that aquaculture occurs in a more controlled environment and virtually guarantees a consistent quality and yield.

Maximum Yield Explains Aquaculture

Aquaculture can be anything from the cultivation of specialty saltwater algae to the raising of shrimp, oysters, or freshwater trout. There are forms of integrated multi-trophic aquaculture that integrates fish and plant farming.

Most freshwater algae is toxic, therefore all of the seaweed grown via aquaculture is a saltwater variety. Although there are varieties that can irritate the stomach lining if it is not properly processed, seaweed is nutritious and has many uses in cooking (e.g., as a wrap for sushi, in a soup) and is even considered a natural laxative.

Besides a consistent harvest of a specific species of fish, aquaculture can assure a product free of heavy metals and common pollutants present under natural conditions.