AQUACULTURE Aquaculture - refers to the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of plants and animals in all types of water environments

including ponds, rivers, lakes, and the ocean. Researchers and aquaculture producers are "farming" all kinds of freshwater and marine species of fish, shellfish, and plants. Aquaculture produces food fish, sport fish, bait fish, ornamental fish, crustaceans, mollusks, algae, sea vegetables, and fish eggs. It is also known as fish or shellfish farming Farming implies some sort of intervention in the rearing process to enhance production, such as regular stocking, feeding, protection from predators, etc. It also implies individual or corporate ownership of the stock being cultivated. Aquaculture is the fastest growing sector of the world food economy, increasing by more than 10% per year and currently accounts for more than 30% of all fish consumed. History of Aquaculture Aquaculture has been used in China since circa 3500 BC. When the waters lowered after river floods, some fishes, mainly carp, were held in artificial ponds. Their brood were later fed using nymphs and silkworm feces, while the fish themselves were eaten as a source of protein. By a fortunate genetic mutation, this early domestication of carp led to the development of goldfish in theTang Dynasty. The indigenous Gunditjmara people in Victoria, Australia may have raised eels as early as 6000 BC. They used woven traps to capture eels, and preserve eels to eat all year round. Japanese cultivated seaweed by providing bamboo poles and, later, nets and oyster shells to serve as anchoring surfaces for spores. Romans bred fish in ponds. 3 Primary Forms of Aquaculture 1. Fish farming - is the primary form of aquaculture. Fish farming is cultivation of fish for commercial purposes in man-made tanks and other enclosures. The most common types of farmed fish are catfish, tilapia, salmon, carp, cod and trout. With the increase in over-fishing and the demand on wild fisheries, the fish-farming industry has grown in order to meet the demand for fish products. 2. Mariculture - is the branch of aquaculture that cultivates marine organisms either in the open ocean, an enclosed portion of the ocean, or tanks or ponds filled with seawater. Finfish, shellfish (like prawns and oysters), and sea plants (like kelp and seaweed) are cultured in saltwater. Mariculture products are also use for cosmetics, jewelry such as cultured pearls and fish meal.

3. Algaculture - is the type of aquaculture that cultivates algae. Most algae harvested is either microalgae (phytoplankton, microphytes or planktonic algae) or macroalgae, commonly known as seaweed. Although macroalgae is used for a variety of commercial purposes, its size and cultivation needs make it hard to grow.

Most Common Methods of Aquaculture 1. Open Aquaculture Systems: Sea-cage (active feeding) refers to the rearing of aquatic species, within enclosures in natural waterways. Open systems are being implemented in a wide range of environments including freshwater rivers, brackish estuaries and coastal marine regions. Floating mesh cages are anchored to the seafloor and vary in size depending on the scale of operation and the species cultured. 2. Open Aquaculture Systems: Sticks, ropes, racks and cages (passive feeding) The culture of numerous shellfish species is carried out in systems open to natural waterways. Larval stages may be collected from the wild or produced in hatcheries. These are then placed into the water column by methods including attachment to sticks or ropes, or containment in cages. The main species cultured with these methods are mussels and oysters. As these species are filter-feeders, they are capable of extracting nutritional requirements from the water column, with no fishmeal being added. 3. Semi-closed Aquaculture Systems refers to the land-based production of a species, in which water is exchanged between the farm and a natural waterway. Waste water is released from the ponds into the local waterway, while the farm is replenished with fresh water pumped back into the system. Prawn farming is the predominant form of semi-closed aquaculture. 4. Closed Aquaculture Systems refers to the land-based rearing of aquatic species in raceways, tanks and ponds. Recirculation technology is implemented which cycles water through filtration processes and returns it back into the aquaculture system. This process aids in maintaining water quality whilst ensuring minimal exchange with natural waterways. It is considered as one of the more environmentally benign methods of rearing aquatic species. Fishmeal may be added to feed carnivorous aquaculture species, and is a concern as it places continued demand on wild fish stocks. However, there is negligible interference with waterways as a result of tight control over waste water and the prevention of fish escape.

Eighty-five percent of the worlds marine stocks are either fully exploited or overfished, driving accelerated growth in the farmed seafood industry. With annual revenue in excess of $60 billion, that industry is on the verge of surpassing the total volume of wild-caught product. Farmed seafood provides an answer to increasing demand for protein sources as the worlds population becomes more affluent, urbanized and approaches 9 billion before 2050. China, overwhelmingly dominates the world in reported aquaculture output. They report a total output which is double that of the rest of the world put together. Issues As with the farming of terrestrial animals, social attitudes influence the need for humane practices and regulations in farmed marine animals. Under the guidelines advised by the Farm Animal Welfare Council good animal welfare means both fitness and a sense of well being in the animals physical and mental state. This can be defined by the Five Freedoms: Freedom from hunger & thirst Freedom from discomfort Freedom from pain, disease, or injury Freedom to express normal behaviour Freedom from fear and distress

IMPACTS OF AQUACULTURE CHEMICAL INPUTS Excessive use of chemicals such as antibiotics, anti-foulants and pesticides or the use of banned chemicals can have unintended consequences for marine organisms and human health. DISEASE AND PARASITES Viruses and parasites that transfer between farmed and wild species as well as among farmed species present a risk to wild populations or other farms. ESCAPES Escaped farmed species can compete with wild fish and interbreed with local wild stocks of the same population, altering the overall pool of genetic diversity. FEED Aquaculture must responsibly source and reduce its dependency upon fishmeal and fish oil a primary ingredient in feedso as not to put additional pressure on the worlds fisheries. Fish caught to make fishmeal and fish oil currently represent one-third of the global fish harvest.

 NUTRIENT POLLUTION & CARRYING CAPACITY Excess food and fish waste increase the levels of nutrients in the water and have the potential to lead to oxygen-deprived waters that stress aquatic life. SOCIAL ISSUES Seafood farming often employs a large number of workers on farms and in processing plants, potentially placing labor practices and worker rights under public scrutiny. Additionally, conflicts can arise among users of the shared coastal environment. LAND CONVERSION & DEGRADATION Clearing of land for agriculture feed sources affects high conservation value areas.

HUMAN HEALTH RISKS In addition to risking both fish and environmental health, aquacultural practices endanger human health: Antibiotics Fish farms frequently use antibiotics to control disease in their crowded pens. By eating fish that have been treated with antibiotics, consumers may be ingesting harmful levels of antibiotic residues. Fungicides: The chemical malachite green is used as a fungicide to prevent the growth of fungus on fish eggs. Malachite green is believed to be toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic in animals. Although its use in aquaculture is banned in the U.S., it is still used in many countries that contribute to our seafood supply. Dyes: It is estimated that 95% of Atlantic salmon is farmed, and almost all of it is dyed pink to make it more palatable to consumers. Although the effects of these dyes on health are not well known, recent studies have indicated possible links between artificial food colorings and hyperactivity in children as well as retinal damage. Nutrition: Farmed fish contain lower levels of protein, a lower ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids, and higher levels of total fat.

REFERENCES http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/problems/aquaculture/fish_feed/ http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/aquaculture/index.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaculture_in_China http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/issues/312/aquaculture/human-health-risks http://worldwildlife.org/industries/farmed-seafood

Catanduanes State University Graduate School Virac Catanduanes

AQUACULTURE
Environmental Education
EDM 410

Submitted by:

RACHEL P. GUALBERTO

Submitted to: DR. MILA D. VELA professor