What Is the Definition of Fish Farming?

Fish farming, the large-scale cultivation of seafood to feed an increasingly demanding world population, has both positive and negative effects on the world’s ecosystems.

Simple Definition

Fish farming, also known as aquaculture, involves the planned growth and cultivation of fish for harvesting as food, as opposed to catching fish in the wild, according to the Environmental Defense Fund.

Prevalence

Aquaculture has grown into a global industry worth $78 billion. As of 2009, up to 40 percent of the world’s fish consumption came from fish farming, according to Time.

Methods

Different types of seafood require different farming methods. Mussel farming, for instance, involves raising the shellfish on underwater ropes, while salmon farmers keep their fish in netted areas.

Positive Effects

Fish farming can make for food available to the world’s growing population without continuing to empty the planet’s oceans of wild sea life. Fisheries add jobs and boost national economies.

Negative Effects

Improperly planned aquaculture can destroy valuable portions of a local ecosystem, such as the clearing of forests to make way for fisheries. Pollution from fish farming processes can enter a water supply and cause further harm.

References

• Environmental Defense Fund: The Promise and Perils of Fish Farming
• Time: Fish Farming's Growing Dangers