Aquaculture is the cultivation of aquatic plants or animals for food or other purposes. It has benefits such as sustainability and increased availability of fish, as well as producing cultured pearls. However, it has also been criticized for its environmental impact and support of large agricultural societies. Some argue that it is necessary for environmental stewardship and sustaining wild populations.
Aquaculture is the cultivation of aquatic plants or animals for all or part of their life cycles, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. The practice is primarily known for its application to fisheries, but that’s not the only thing aquaculture can be used for. It also applies to oysters, shrimps and other animals not traditionally considered aquaculture.
Aquaculture has a number of benefits. First, it allows natural populations of fish to reproduce while farm-raised versions are used for food. This helps the sustainability of some highly sought-after fish. It also means that fish are easier to find.
Pearls are another product produced through the use of aquaculture. These are known as cultured pearls and are produced in both fresh and salt water. The oyster is implanted with a nucleus that it will eventually use to form the pearl, which takes risk out of the equation. While natural pearls are, in many cases, much more valuable, cultured pearls are easier to produce and more abundant, which is why their value is lower.
In the United States, catfish and trout are two of the most commonly farmed fish produced via aquaculture. These species do well in a controlled environment and turn a profit relatively quickly. While they don’t normally grow as large as their natural counterparts, simply because they don’t live as long, they often grow faster, receiving supplements in addition to natural food.
In some quarters, aquaculture has come under criticism for the way it farms its products and for some of its environmental impacts. For example, farmed salmon often doesn’t have the same health benefits as wild salmon, due to dietary issues and a lack of ability to swim in wide open spaces, as naturally expected. Additionally, supplements are given that affect growth, hormones, and even the color of the flesh.
Critics of aquaculture also suggest that the practice supports major agricultural societies, rather than small farmers and fishermen. The costs of starting and maintaining an aquaculture operation can sometimes be prohibitively expensive for many who want to get involved. Therefore, in many cases, the only ones able to get into the business are those who have substantial capital to spend. They are usually large companies.
Others say aquaculture is an important part of environmental stewardship. Technology has now reached a point where species can be harvested at rates that far exceed the species’ ability to reproduce. Therefore, the only way to sustain wild populations may be to supplement those populations with farm-raised versions of the species. Indeed, those who support aquaculture activities believe that the practice is the key to good environmental practices.
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