Ten years into the twenty-first century, the earth’s population is approaching 6.8 billion people. Finding enough food for that number of humans is a worldwide issue and aquaculture is one solution to that dilemma.
Aquaculture is a form of agriculture and can be thought of as the controlled growth of marine organisms, mostly for human consumption. But instead of crops such as corn, wheat and soybeans, or livestock such as cattle, pork and chicken, the end product is aquatic species like fish, shrimp, mollusks and algae.
Stating the obvious, humans need to eat to survive, but the human body needs a consistent supply of protein to maintain optimum health and bodily functions. Throughout human history, fish and seafood have provided that supply of protein. Seafood was looked to as that source of protein long before humans turned to growing cattle or chicken.
In addition to a healthy supply of protein, people view seafood as an enjoyable alternative to their regular diets. Eating shrimp, crab or lobster, for example, is viewed as a special occurrence, associated with holidays as a treat for those it is not normally available to.
For all those reasons, wild or natural populations of aquatic species cannot meet the demand of the current human population. Aquaculture, then, is the practice required to meet that demand and humans are needed to manage the resultant industry. The list of jobs required is just as lengthy as similar industries in the agricultural field. From growing the species, to researching better methods or developing government regulations on farming fish, a number of different careers are available in the aquaculture industry.
The methods used to grow seafood are numerous and often times depend on the species involved. A fish farm is the common term used to describe areas in which finfish are grown. The finfish classification defines what is most commonly thought of when the term fish is used. Finfish are aquatic vertebrate with fins, such as salmon or catfish, and excluding species such as shellfish. Common species involved in fish farming include catfish, carp, Atlantic salmon and tilapia. The shellfish and mollusk species, such as shrimp and clams, also are common fish farm products in certain parts of the world.
Most fish farms typically occur as either naturally formed or manmade ponds or areas of rivers, lakes or seawater sectioned off from their natural surroundings by cages or nets. The particular species is usually grown from the beginning of its life cycle, such as the fry stage for finfish, in a controlled environment like a hatchery or indoor tank, and then planted into the farm at a later stage of maturity. Fish farm managers and aquaculturists are needed to manage these facilities. Biologists and scientists are needed to maximize the farm efficiencies. Industry suppliers provide required materials such as fish feed and water recirculation equipment. Engineers work on farm design and optimize the processes through advanced techniques and equipment. Once the species reaches adult maturity, it is harvested and processed into a form suitable for human consumption. Fishing crews and fish processing plant workers are needed to complete this step.
Another form of aquaculture involves the attempt to support natural fisheries. In this case, quantities of fish eggs are taken from wild fish and reared in indoor facilities such as hatcheries in the hope that a controlled environment, devoid of predation and other negative factors, will provide higher survival rates. Once the eggs reach at least a fingerling stage, they are then returned to their natural habitat to grow to mature fish. Salmon and trout are common species managed in this way. Hatcheries require managers and aquaculture technicians to run these facilities properly.
As with any other form of agriculture, the process is much more complicated than this description, with many steps and complications along the way. The fish must be managed along the course of their growth, attempting to protect them from disease and maximize the efficiencies and ultimately the profit for the fish farm company. Research scientists and biologists play critical roles in this area.
Tags: agriculture and water quality, aquaculture