What is Aquaculture?

About Aquaculture:

• It is the propagation and husbandry of aquatic plants, animals, and other organisms for commercial, recreational, and scientific purposes.
• Aquaculture is an approximate aquatic equivalent to agriculture—that is, the rearing of certain marine and freshwater organisms to supplement the natural supply.
• This includes production for supplying other aquaculture operations, for providing food and industrial products, for stocking sport fisheries, for supplying aquatic bait animals, for stocking fee-fishing operations, for providing aquatic organisms for ornamental purposes, and for supplying feedstocks to the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
• Aquaculture has been in existence since at least 500 BC. However, only since the mid-20th century has it assumed commercial importance.
• There are two main types of aquacultures—marine and freshwater. 
• Aquaculture can happen all over the world: in coastal ocean waters, fresh water ponds and rivers, and even on land in tanks.
• It is one of the fastest-growing forms of food production in the world. 
  • Globally, aquaculture already supplies more than half of all seafood consumed by humans.
• More than 550 aquatic species are farmed via aquaculture.
  • The top fish species include carp, catfish, salmon, and tilapia; commonly farmed shellfish include shrimp, oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops.
  • Newer to marine farming are various species of seaweed, which total 27% of annual global aquaculture tonnage. 
• Major Producers:
  • China is firmly at the top of the global aquaculture production, producing nearly 60% of farmed seafood.
  • Other leaders include Indonesia, India, and Vietnam.

Q1: What is the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)?

It is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. It is the oldest permanent specialized agency of the UN, established in October 1945. Its mandate is to improve nutrition, increase agricultural productivity, raise the standard of living in rural populations, and contribute to global economic growth. The FAO coordinates the efforts of governments and technical agencies in programs for developing agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and land and water resources.

News: Climate change is biggest disruptor in aquaculture: FAO