Aquaculture: what is behind this form of fish farming

Aquaculture allows fish to be bred and natural waters to be protected. In this article we will tell you exactly what aquaculture is all about.

That is behind the term "aquaculture"

"Aquaculture" is the controlled breeding of fish in designated farms. One of the aims of aquaculture is to prevent the sea from being fished out empty. Aquaculture offers many advantages. However, there are also some disadvantages if it is not carried out sustainably.

• The advantages of aquaculture:
• Wild fish stocks are relieved and can recover.
• Fish can be bred as needed and all year round.
• There is no bycatch. Only the wanted fish are bred in the fish farms. In this way, many sea creatures are saved from unnecessary death.
• The large fishing vessels are not absolutely necessary. This saves petrol, time and money.
• Fish farms also create new jobs.
• The disadvantages of aquaculture:
• Fish farms need space. So it happens that areas are used that were previously an important habitat for other animals. For example, the mangrove forests in Asia that are cleared for shrimp farms.
• Every now and then farmed fish manage to escape into natural water. There they can reproduce unhindered in good conditions and thereby displace other species.
• Too many fish are often kept in a confined space. This causes diseases to develop more quickly, which can spread quickly. To avoid this, antibiotics and pesticides are used.
• Chemicals, feed residues and the like end up in open water in open aquaculture systems, causing damage.
• With some fish species, the young animals are caught and raised in the farms, because the breeding of young animals is otherwise too cumbersome or not feasible. This strongly endangers wildlife populations.
• Feed is required for the bred fish. For predatory fish, therefore, forage fish are caught from the sea, which are then further processed into fish meal or oil. So aquaculture prevents overfishing of the oceans.
• Predatory fish are, for example, salmon or trout. Coarse fish are the carp or the catfish. It is better to use fried fish than predatory fish to protect the environment.

These aquaculture methods exist

In sustainable aquaculture, it is important that there are as few negative consequences as possible for wild fish stocks, coastal habitats for wild animals and general water quality. When buying fish, always pay attention to the organic seal on the package, which indicates how the fish was kept.
There are several systems in aquaculture. We present them to you below:

• Network enclosures: The fish are kept in nets. There is no artificial facility, because the nets are simply installed in all types of natural water. There the fish have an optimal supply of their needs. However, this allows food residues, medication and other things to mix freely with the environment.
• Pond management: Artificially created or partially artificial pond systems, which are kept very natural. Fish that are used to standing water are bred in these facilities.
• Flow systems: Flow systems are pools that are constantly flowed through with fresh water. This water is derived from natural sources and ultimately returned to it. In these plants fish are raised that require a high oxygen content in the water or in the current.
• Closed circulation systems: In this system, the water runs through a closed circuit, where it is cleaned. This method has the advantage of being location independent. In addition, the environment is least harmed because the water does not get into open water. However, these systems are also the most expensive.
• Shellfish farming: Mussels are grown quite naturally in the sea. Young mussels are located on artificial devices such as ropes and nets. They feed on plankton in the water and do not need any additional feed.

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In the next article you will read what exactly is behind sustainable fishing.