Aquaculture,
also known as fish farming is the reproduction and growth of aquatic plants and
animals in a controlled or semi-controlled environment. It is the fastest
growing form of food production in the world, providing over half the world
food supply. Aquaculture involves the cultivation of fish, shellfish, such as
oysters, clams and mussels and aquatic plants, like kelp.
Freshwater Aquaculture in the Selangor River Basin
Aquaculture Products
- Food
Shrimps and
fishes
- Recreation
-
Sport fish such as largemouth bass are grown in
hatcheries and released into public waters or purchase for private pond
recreational fishing.
Largemouth Bass
- Ornamental
-
Anemone fish (Pomacentridae) is one example of
ornamental fish in aquaculture.
- Medicinal
-
This include
fish vaccines, veterinary medicines, immunostimulants, feed additives and
biocides.
Examples Of Aquaculture's Production
B) Closed Systems
C) Raceways
E) P onds
Examples Of Aquaculture's Production
- Catfish
- Tilapia In Freshwater Ponds
- Cultured Pearls
- Farming Salmon
The Methods Of Aquaculture
A) Open - Net
Pen System
- Found offshore in coastal areas or in freshwater lakes, open-net pens or ‘cages’ are considered a high-risk aquaculture method as they allow for free and unregulated exchange between the farm and the surrounding environment.
- Farmed salmon are typically farmed in this manner.
- Open net pens allow free exchange of high concentrations of waste, chemicals, parasites and disease.
- Farmed fish can escape and they also attract predators, such as marine mammals, that can get tangled and drown in fish farm nets.
- Closed systems or ‘closed containment’ farming methods use a barrier to control the exchange between farms and the natural environment.
- This significantly reduces pollution, fish escapes, negative wildlife interactions, and parasite and disease transfer from farms to marine and freshwater ecosystems.
- Flowing water is diverted from natural streams or a well.
- Raceways are typically used for raising rainbow trout. To be considered a low-risk method, waste must be treated and fish escapes prevented.
- Water in these systems is treated and re-circulated. Almost any type of finfish can be raised in recirculating systems.
- Common species farmed in this manner include arctic char, striped bass, barramundi, sturgeon, and increasingly salmon.
- This system does not mix with natural water sources, which mitigates pollution, parasite transfer and fish escapes.
- Ponds are semi- or fully enclosed body of water.
- Catfish, tilapia and shrimp are typically farmed in this manner. Discharged waste must be filtered and treated to be considered a “low-risk” method. “high-risk” pond farms discharge untreated wastewater which pollutes the surrounding environment.
- They can also cause devastating habitat destruction. For example, the construction of shrimp ponds in asia and south america has (note: subject here is “construction”, noun, singular ! ) Destroyed 3.7 million acres of mangrove forests along the coast.
