What is the meaning of Aquaculture? Concept and Definition of Aquaculture

Aquaculture – Its Definition and Concepts  


Concepto de Piscicultura

1. Concept of fish farming

Fish is fish aquaculture, term under which are grouped together a wide range of very different cultures together, usually named according to the species or family. At the industrial level, aquaculture facilities are known as fish farms, although it is a term in use, because of the diversification that has been growing, in tanks, ponds, floating cages, etc.
The history of fish farming is linked to the aquaculture. There are references of fish culture practices in ancient China, Egypt, Babylon, Greece, Rome, and other American and Eurasian cultures.
The oldest references date back to around 3500 BC, in ancient China. In the year 1400 BC, existing laws of protection against thieves of fish. The first treatise on carp culture dates from 475 B.c., attributed to the Chinese Fan-Li, also known as Fau Lai.
Among Greeks and Romans, there force until age average, in monasteries and abbeys, taking advantage of ponds fed by river channels, where cultivation consisted of the fattening of carp and trout.
In the year 1758 there was an important discovery, the artificial fertilization of eggs of salmon and trout by Stephen Ludvig Jacobi, an Austrian researcher, although its research did not start the lab and was forgotten.
In 1842, two French fishermen, Remy, and Gehin, obtained viable sunsets, completely aside from the discovery of Jacobi. They managed to fry trout, which developed in the pond successfully. The discovery led to the Academy of Sciences of Paris to deepen in the find, and thus the creation of the Institute of Huninge, the first Center of aquaculture research.

Freshwater Tropical and Subtropical aquaculture

They are crops of fish species tropical and subtropical freshwater, outdoor growing or greenhouse. The most widespread are the crops of tilapia, Cachama or Pangasius, and new species are constantly being incorporated.
These crops are often associated to cultivation of shellfish in freshwater and other agricultural activities, known as integrated crop. Aquaculture production in agricultural production is integrated into them. Aquaponics systems, crop water is used for the cultivation of vegetables from garden, taking advantage of mineral nutrients generated by the cultivation and purification plant capacity.

Marine fish culture

Trade is of great importance. For many species, crop production has almost replaced completely to fishing catches. Some of the more important species are turbot, bream, sea bass, cod, bream, sole, etc.
A variant of marine aquaculture is called greasing of bluefin tuna, which is done in cage from wild specimens, so far without closing the life cycle of the species. After a process of fattening are subsequently sold on the Japanese market, where it is a much appreciated product and high price.

2 Meaning of fish farming

The notion of fish farming is formed from two words: Pisces and culture. If we take these words from its meaning in latin, fish farming is "the fish farming".
It is, therefore, of techniques and procedures that will help promote and control the reproduction of fish and other aquatic animals (such as shellfish). Fish farming can be applied in aquariums, ponds, rivers or other spaces that have water as a primary means.
There is a broader concept that includes fish farming and other techniques: aquaculture. In this case, the word refers also to the reproduction of aquatic plants, algae and other organisms. Fish farming, on the other hand, focuses on fish and shellfish.
Its origins can be traced back thousands of years: the ancient people of Greece, Rome, Egypt and China, among others, already developed such practices. Historians believe that carp was the first fish that was cultivated from fish farming.
Today it is possible to include different types of fish according to the species of fish that is oriented. Mentioned carp, for example, is the protagonist of the carpicultura. When fish farming is aimed at saltwater species, one speaks of marine fish culture, while venting of the fish that live near the tropics, tropical fish is called.
It should be noted that, in some cases, fish farming has virtually replaced fishing in the natural environment. That happens with cod and other species.

3. Definition and what is fish farming

Fish farming is the farming of fish, art repopulate the rivers and ponds of fish, or failing that, direct and encourage the reproduction of fish and seafood.
Fish farming is an activity which, from its origins, has been closely linked to aquaculture, activities, knowledge and techniques of cultivation of aquatic plant and animal species; remote references date back to 3500 B.C. in ancient China, even more so, in the year 1400 BC, approx., there were laws that protected fish thieves.
Among main advantages proposed by fish farming: the value of the fish is reduced, the pond can be built on those lands that are not always suitable for agriculture or livestock, and when there is enough water, the farmer can calculate their production needs, growth and fattening controllable, increasing or improving the dietthe species can also be enhanced genetically, the pond prevents the action of predators and competitors by which natural mortality is minimal and since establishing the culture we know who is its owner, something which does not happen with the capture in lakes and rivers.
Depending on the objectives, fish farming is classified in: industrial agricultural farming (produces fish of commercial and nutritional value), restocking fish (deals with the reproduction from artificial methods) and ornamental fish farming (produces fine and rare species to decorate fountains and ponds in public parks and private gardens).
Meanwhile, tropical and subtropical fresh water fish farming involves the cultivation of freshwater subtropical and tropical fish, either in foreign culture or in greenhouse, the most common of this type include the pacu, pangasius and tilapia, though new species are constantly incorporated.
Salmon farming, on the other hand, is dedicated to the production of fish in the family salmonidae; because it is anadromous fish they must pass during their life cycle stages of freshwater and saltwater, live in salt water and mate in freshwater.