What is aquaculture?

Aquaculture, also rightfully known as aquafarming, refers to  "the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of plants and animals in all types of water environments including ponds, rivers, lakes, and the ocean," according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Essentially, all kinds of species of freshwater and marine fish, shellfish, and plants, are being farmed. Seafood from fish and shellfish are grown in ponds, tanks, and cages until they reach market size, and are then harvested to be sold. Aquaculture can also be utilized for aquarium trade. A form of aquaculture called "enhancement" is also practiced, where hatchery fish and shellfish are released into the wild in order to help rebuild wild populations or coastal habitats. Plant species can be grown for pharmaceutical, nutritional, fuel, or biotechnology product uses as well.

Marine aquaculture refers to farming species that live in the ocean, while freshwater aquaculture refers to species native to rivers, lakes, and streams. Marine aquaculture produces species such as oysters, clams, mussels, shrimp, salmon, yellow tail, sea bass, and more. It can take place in the ocean with a built cage around it, or on land in a man made tank. Catfish dominate freshwater aquaculture production, but trout, tilapia, and bass are also common. It can take place in ponds or in man made tanks.

Raceways are also a technique utilized by aquaculture. A raceway is a flow-through system in which an artificial channel is used to keep water flowing, allowing no stagnant water. This eliminates the issue of dirt, debris, and feces collecting, lowering the risk of toxins and disease. This method is also useful for species who have high oxygen requirements, such as trout. The water source is generally streams or springs flowing downhill, often coming from melted ice off mountain peaks. Cold water species are suited for this kind of raceway system, including rainbow trout, freshwater shrimp, catfish, tilapia, and juvenile salmon.

Is Aquaculture Safe?

The industry is regulated by federal agencies such as the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Harvesters are required to carefully manage aquatic resources, but over 88% of the seafood consumed in the United States is imported, often from countries that do not have strict environmental and safety standards, according to The National Aquaculture Association.

Image from UC Davis GeoWiki

TheNational Aquaculture Association states that before a hormone drug is used in aquaculture, it must be shown that it will not harm the environment or public health. This statement leads me to believe that not only are there a number of hormones used in raising fish and shellfish, but these drugs may be harmful to the environment or public health, given what I know, and what I am currently learning in Environmental Law about the current state and process of testing potentially harmful substances in the U.S. The NAA states that farm-raised oysters, clams, and mussels are monitored by the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC), and operate under FDA approval.