aquaculture is the feminine noun that means the science it studies techniques for the cultivation and reproduction of fish, algae, crustaceans or molluscs. It can also designate the treatment of lakes or rivers to improve fishing activity.
Aquaculture is responsible for cultivating aquatic organisms under controlled conditions, with ideal lighting and water temperature for the creation of the species in question. Aquaculture often takes place in ponds.
This activity can be developed in fresh water (continental aquaculture), or in salt water, in this case being called mariculture.
According to data from UN, in just 36 years (from 1970 to 2006) aquaculture had a huge increase in the supply of consumed fish, going from 3.9% to 47%.
There are several types of aquaculture:
- Pisciculture (fish farming, in fresh and marine waters);
- Malacoculture (breeding of shellfish such as snails and scallops, mussel farming is known as mussel farming and oyster farming as oyster farming);
- algiculture (algae production);
- shrimp farming (breeding of crustaceans such as shrimp and crabs);
- Alligator Breeding;
- frog culture (frog breeding);
Aquaculture and Fishing
Aquaculture is related to fishing, because both activities refer to obtaining a product for consumption or to be used in the process of creating another product.
The difference between the two is that the concept of fishing indicates the act of exploring a public property, while aquaculture has defined owners, whose activity is the creation of species.
sustainable aquaculture
Aquaculture is an activity that uses natural resources such as water, soil, energy, etc. For this reason, conscientious and responsible use is essential.
Thus, it is very important to have economic and environmental sustainability, that is, production methods must be efficient and at the same time must preserve the environment.
Decrease in biodiversity or changes in ecosystem functioning must be avoided. For this reason, sometimes young elements of created species are returned to their natural habitat, with the aim of increasing the natural population or to insert a new species.
Aquaculture in Brazil
Brazil has enormous potential in terms of aquaculture, knowing that it has very rich water resources and an extensive coastline.
In 12 years (from 1995 to 2007), fish production rose from 46 thousand tons to 289 thousand tons. Thus, aquaculture is the solution to supply the high demand for fish in the Brazilian market.
