According to the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), aquaculture is the
breeding, rearing, and harvesting of plants and animals in all types of water
environments including ponds, rivers, lakes, and the ocean. Marine aquaculture
consists of the culturing of species that live in the ocean; freshwater
aquaculture consists of species that reside and are native to rivers, lakes,
and streams. Aquaculture is typically produced under controlled conditions and may
also refer to the development of aquatic plants.
This history of aquaculture in the United States began in
Madison, Wisconsin in 1887 when the first fish hatchery was opened. This fueled
research and technological advancements leading to industrial development in
the middle 1900s. Channel catfish were the first successful aquaculture market,
followed by salmon. Shellfish production has been around for years before
enhanced beds became a popular method of extraction.
Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing form of food
production in the world. Catfish, trout, tilapia, and bass command the
aquaculture crops in the United States. Aquaculture in the U.S. supplies
seafood, supports commercial fisheries, restores habitat and at risk species,
and maintains the economic activity on states that border the coasts. Mississippi,
Louisiana, Arkansas, and Alabama are among the largest catfish suppliers. The
northwestern portion of Idaho provides much of the trout production. Every
costal state provides shellfish, however the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific
Northwest, and the northeastern region are the top three. It is estimated that
50 percent of fish farms in America use groundwater for production of fish.
Trout require large amounts of oxygen and are often raised in raceways with a
continuous flow of water that goes through a system.
According to
Aquaculture Magazine, U.S. marine aquaculture production has been increasing
steadily in recent years. Salmon,
oysters, and clams are the most important harvested products of the marine
category, with the largest extraction occurring off the Pacific Coast. Atlantic
coast and the Gulf of Mexico follow suit. Dutch Harbour, Alaska was found to be the most
productive seafood port in terms of volume.
On a global scale the United States is not a major contributing
producer of aquaculture despite the fact that U.S. is the second largest
consumer of seafood. Salmon is one of the most popular species of fish in the
United States, as well as Japan and Europe. China is the leading country in
seafood consumption and one of the largest contributing producers to the
aquaculture industry. A large percentage of farmed shrimp occurs in China,
while Thailand, Indonesia, and India trail behind. Carp is the most farmed fish
in China, followed by bream. The most popular farming system includes pond
culture, dominating 70 percent of the market. Open-water fish farming -
reservoirs, lakes and rivers - is the remaining 30 percent.
G. Knapp of NOAA estimates that doubling the current amount
of aquacultures jobs in the U.S. could result in 50,000 jobs and over one
billion in farm-gate value. Generally, the importance of aquaculture to support
the economy will vary on a basis of region.
Sources:
