Fish farming,or aquaculture,has been around in a variety of forms for hundreds of years, from Pre-Columbian fish traps in the Amazon basin to carp ponds on ancient Chinese farms. Today aquaculture is used to produce a vast spectrum of popular fish of both freshwater and saltwater origins: some of the farmed species of fish are salmon, shrimp, catfish, oysters, and aquatic plants such as seaweed. Most species of fish that are farmed in aquaculture are bred and raised in captivity. There are a few species that do not respond well to this and are therefore harvested from the wild. Due to chronic overfishing in our oceans certain species as cod, sea bass, and red snapper are rapidly being depleted, fish farming is seen as a way to satisfy the world’s growing appetite for healthy fish. Today, over 70 percent of world fish stocks are fully exploited or are already overfished. With properly regulated aquaculture we may see a massive increase in world fish stocks, thus preserving depleted species and providing a sustainable product for the worlds fish markets.
Aquaculture is also a way to provide a sustainable source of income for thousands of farmers and fishermen who had seen their yields drop and their catches devalued. It is also hoped that fish farming will help to supply the protein needs of Third World populations through businesses and farms owned and run by locals. The fish farms’ “fields” can be large tanks and artificial ponds as well as enclosures in natural settings such as rivers, lakes, seacoasts, or the open ocean. Today the aquaculture industry is worth approximately $78 billion and supplies nearly 40% of the seafood we eat.
