Aquaculture - Asmak - The International Fish Farming Company, Hatching, Fish Farming, Harvesting and Processing

What is Aquaculture ?

The term Aquaculture covers all activities aimed at producing, processing and marketing aquatic animals and plants from fresh, brackish and salt waters. In narrow terms aquaculture embraces the use and manipulation of natural and artificial bodies of waters to produce species of fish required for human consumption and thus concerns all activities associated with breeding and culture of aquatic organisms.
Aquaculture is an exciting and complex discipline that is at once an ancient art and yet a pioneering science. It is proving to be one of the best strategies for fulfilling the world's growing food needs.

the science of aquaculture
key benefits of aquaculture
hatching, farming, harvesting & processing
aquaculture links

The Science of Aquaculture

Aquaculture is the art, science, and business of producing aquatic plants and animals for human use in a controlled environment. Due to our highly health conscious society and the declining wild fish populations, there is a need is increasingly felt for development of aquaculture sector virtually around the world. The same is evidenced by phenomenal growth the sector has experienced In the last decade. The role aquaculture will play is to aid in producing reliable, high quality protein containing products such as fish, shellfish and plants for the consumers.

Aquaculture, like agriculture, is the cultivation and harvest of plants and animals for human use. Both are farming, but aquaculture - farming in water - requires a different set of knowledge, skills and technology. Plants and animals are held in water in a variety of systems, fed continuously, harvested and sold to distributors.
Fish farming is rapidly expanding all over the world. Wide ranges of species are being grown internationally and this is helping preserve and sustain wild fisheries.

Environmental Conditions
Aquaculture is totally dependent on the quantity and quality of water available. As a result, the first consideration in the process of developing an aquaculture system is to study a source of water. The water generally has to undergo a thorough chemical analysis prior to being employed in such a project to ensure it is low in chemicals such as arsenic, boron, fluoride and other elements, which could be harmful to the survival of aquatic organisms.

Aquaculture Systems
Aquaculture occurs in three different forms: ponds, pens, and recirculating tanks. Pond aquaculture is most like farming. With this method, areas of land are enclosed by dikes and flooded. Fish, most commonly catfish or shrimp, are then added to the pond. The fish or shellfish are fed on a regular schedule, and a clean source of water is used to keep the pond in the proper condition for healthy growth.

Floating pens are the most common methods for growing marine finfish, such as salmon, in protected coastal waters. One of the biggest concerns in aquaculture is continuously providing fresh, clean water for the fish. In large enclosures made of netting, fish can enjoy a natural flow of water and all the food they can eat. This open-water approach is also used in growing marine shellfish, with the natural currents bringing both clean water and plenty of food for filter-feeding bivalves such as oysters, quahogs, and scallops.

The newest kind of aquaculture employs recirculation systems to clean and re-use water. "Recirc" systems are made up of several components that filter the culture water of waste and toxins as well as treating it reduces bacteria and viruses load. Because one can control the environmental parameters in this recycling system, it allows growers to carefully control water quality and eliminates them from the risk of weather-dependent ponds and pens. Recirculating systems also use far less water than other methods and any discharge water can be thoroughly treated to make sure that no waste is released into public waters.

Types of Aquaculture
Depending on the requirements of the species, the animals or plants can be raised in a warm, cold or marine environment. In warm fresh water, catfish, crayfish, baitfish, sportfish, tilapia and ornamental fish are grown.
Cold fresh water trout and salmon are grown. In mariculture, which uses brackish or salt water, brackish clams, oysters, seaweed, mussels, shrimp, haddock, cod, salmon, and flounder are grown.
Each life stage of these species can take place in several different growing environments. Depending on the species being cultured as well as the location of the facility ponds, tanks, open ocean, raceways, or cages would be choices for rearing systems.

Key Benefits of Aquaculture

Production of healthy harvests in pollution free environments
Quantity and quality control of species and distribution
Defined species management - no wastage or bycatch
Potential to meet increasing market demands
Strong financial benefits from rising prices and diminishing supplies
Alternative source of supply for overfished, high value species
Minimal impact on the environment
On land or sea cage options
Accessible Global expertise and research resources.

Hatching, Farming, Harvesting and Processing

Once the water source and systems are in place, the water is 'fertilised' with algae to create a natural environment for the growth of fish and other organisms. The production process starts with the stripping (artificial spawning) of female fish. Eggs are fertilised with milt from selected males. The fertilised eggs are placed in the hatchery under careful supervision.

Hatching of eggs is the next stage. The fry emerges from the egg with a large yolk sac on its stomach. The yolk functions as nutrition for the first few weeks, after which the first careful feeding begins. At an age of approximately 12 to 18 months, the fish has developed into a smolt, and is ready to be placed in the sea.

Fish spend one to two years in sea cages. When the fish are released into the sea, the production of table fish has started. During this growth phase, the fish farmer monitors the fish carefully and adjusts the quantity and quality of feed in line with water temperature and other biological conditions.

At an age of two to three years, the fish are harvested after having reached sizes demanded in the markets. The fish are prepared for sale in special processing plants.

High quality fish, graded 'superior' are now ready to be freighted in special packaging to importers in a number of countries. Thanks to modern-day transport amenities, harvested fish reach their consumers at the most three days after being harvested.

Aquaculture Links

www. AquaText.com - Aquaculture dictionary
www. AquaFeed.com - Aquafeed industry site
www. Aquamag.com - Industry-related publications