Fish farming

People can farm fish for food.

They use big tanks or ponds. They also use cages in the sea.

Farming fish keeps them safe. Farmers give them food to eat. They also help them stay healthy. This helps us have more fish to eat.

Some people farm fish for pets. These fish live in tanks at home. Many of these fish come from farms.

Farming can help the world. It helps when there are not enough wild fish. This is called aquaculture.

Fish farming is a big job. Many people work to grow fish. It is a way to feed many people.

Fish farming is a way to grow fish for food.

This is called aquaculture. It means growing animals in water. People use big tanks or ponds to do this. They also use cages in the sea.

These cages can stay in rivers or lakes too.

Farming helps when wild fish stocks get low. Farmers give fish food and keep them safe. They also protect them from predators. This makes it easier to harvest fish for people to eat. Some farms grow fish for pets. Many aquarium fish come from farms in Asia and Europe.

There are two main ways to farm. One way is called extensive farming. This is very old and started in China. These fish live in natural water and find their own food. The other way is intensive farming. This uses more care. Farmers must give fish special food and keep the water clean. They even use bubbles to add oxygen to the water. This helps the fish grow well.

Fish farming is a way to grow fish for people to eat or enjoy.

This practice is called aquaculture. It is the controlled growing of water animals like fish, shrimp, and molluscs. People use many different places to raise them. They might use large tanks or man-made ponds. They also use big cages placed in rivers, lakes, or the sea.

Some farms even work deep in the ocean. This helps make sure there is enough fish for everyone.

There are two main ways that fish farming works. The first way is called extensive aquaculture. This is a very old method that likely started in China 4000 years ago. In these farms, fish live in natural water or ponds. They find their own food and reproduce on their own. The second way is called intensive aquaculture. This method requires much more work and care. Farmers must provide special food and keep the water very clean. They often use bubbles to add oxygen to the water so fish can breathe.

Farmers must be very careful when they use intensive methods. They have to watch the water quality closely. They check things like acidity and oxygen levels. If the water is not right, the fish can get stressed or sick. Some farmers use special systems that recycle the water to keep it fresh. These are called Recirculating Aquaculture Systems, or RAS. They are often used for very valuable fish.

High-tech farms can even grow fish for people to keep in home aquariums. Many of these colorful pet fish come from farms in Asia, Europe, and South America.

Fish farming is a huge part of our world today. In 2016, more than half of all seafood came from aquaculture. Between the years 2000 and 2018, production grew by about 5.3 percent each year. This grew from 32.4 million tonnes to 82.1 million tonnes. China is a very big leader in this work. In fact, China provides 62% of the world's farmed fish. Many different species are raised, such as carp, catfish, salmon, and tilapia.

Even though fish farming is helpful, it has some hard jobs to do. Farming carnivorous fish, like salmon, can sometimes use up wild fish for food. This is because salmon are often fed fishmeal made from wild fish. There are also worries about water pollution and diseases spreading to wild fish. Sometimes, fish can escape from their cages into the wild. In 2017, nearly 300,000 Atlantic salmon escaped from cages in Washington state. This could be a problem for the native fish living there. Scientists and farmers work hard to find better ways to farm safely.

Fish farming, also known as pisciculture, is the commercial breeding of fish. Most fish are raised for human food. This practice is a specific type of aquaculture. Aquaculture is the controlled cultivation of aquatic animals. This includes fish, crustaceans, and molluscs in natural or pseudo-natural environments.

Some facilities are called hatcheries. These hatcheries release juvenile fish into the wild. This helps recreational fishing or supplements natural species numbers. Fish farming is vital because global demand for fish protein is rising. This demand has caused overfishing in many wild fisheries. Overfishing leads to decreased fish stocks and even complete depletion in some areas.

There are two main methods of aquaculture: extensive and intensive. Extensive aquaculture is the oldest method. It likely originated in China about 4,000 years ago. In these systems, fish live in natural bodies of water or artificial ponds. They rely on natural resources to feed and reproduce. This requires very little external labor or feed. However, converting lakes or ponds into farms can threaten local habitats. It may also introduce invasive species into the environment.

Intensive aquaculture is much more controlled and technical. Farmers provide sufficient feeding, protection, and veterinarian services. They also provide access to easy harvesting. These systems can increase fish production per unit of surface area. However, they require massive water purification systems. Farmers must maintain optimal water parameters to prevent stress. These parameters include acidity (pH 6–9) and oxygen levels. They also monitor ammonia, nitrates, and dissolved solids.

High-intensity systems, called Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), recycle water. RAS is used for high-value species like sturgeon. This method has high capital and operating costs.

Feeding is a critical part of intensive farming. Fish have a high feed conversion ratio (FCR). This means they are very efficient at turning food into body mass. For example, salmon have an FCR of about 1.1 kg of feed per kg of fish. In contrast, chickens have an FCR of about 2.5 kg. Because fish do not use energy to keep warm, they need less carbohydrate. However, carnivorous fish like salmon often require fishmeal. This fishmeal is extracted from wild forage fish. This can sometimes reduce the benefits for wild fisheries.

Farmers use different structures to house their fish. Cage systems are common in lakes, rivers, or oceans. This is sometimes called off-shore cultivation when done in the sea.

Cages protect fish until they reach market size. Some new technology uses semi-submersible marine designs. For instance, the Ocean Farm 1 project in Norway uses deep-sea pens. These pens help disperse waste better than coastal farms. This supports higher fish packing density.

Fish farming is a massive global industry. China is the largest producer, providing 62% of the world's farmed fish. Between 2000 and 2018, aquaculture grew by 5.3 percent annually. Production rose from 32.4 million tonnes to 82.1 million tonnes. As of 2016, more than 50% of all seafood came from aquaculture.

Many species are grown, including carp, catfish, salmon, and tilapia. In 2013, grass carp and silver carp were among the top species by weight. The industry also supports the aquarium trade. Most freshwater aquarium fish come from farms in Asia, Europe, and South America.

Despite its benefits, fish farming faces several challenges. Overcrowding can cause stress, injuries, and disease. Parasites like fish lice or bacteria can spread to wild populations. There is also the risk of fish escapes. In 2017, nearly 300,000 Atlantic salmon escaped in Washington state. This can endanger native species like the Pacific salmon. Marine Scotland has recorded over 3.7 million fish escaping since 1999. Environmentalists also worry about water pollution from these facilities. Scientists continue to study ways to make farming more sustainable.