chapter12-soest-soestschoolofoceanandearth-CHAPTER.docVIP

CHAPTER 12 AQUACULTURE What is aquaculture? Aquaculture may be simply defined as the growing of aquatic organisms under controlled conditions (Bardach, et al., 1972). As such, aquaculture can take many forms. Strictly speaking, any intervention in the life cycle of an aquatic organism intended to increase the production of that organism for the benefit of mankind might be classified as aquaculture. Hawaiians, for example, transplanted juvenile fish from the ocean into confined coastal ponds where the supply of natural foods stimulated the growth of the fish. The practice of merely transplanting an aquatic organism to a habitat more favorable for growth is a simple form of aquaculture. A more sophisticated form of aquaculture would involve manipulation of the pond environment and the supply of food for the fish. In some cases the natural productivity of the system is stimulated by the addition of fertilizers, in which case the supply of food for the cash crop is controlled only indirectly. Such schemes, for example, have been used to culture milkfish and shrimp in Southeast Asia. Similar strategies may be used to grow shellfish, which feed by filtering particles out of the water. In other cases the cash crop is nourished directly through the use of pelletized feed, the culture of catfish and trout being cases in point. Regardless of the mechanism of feeding the cash crop, control of water quality invariably becomes an issue in aquaculture. An adequate supply of oxygen and a mechanism for removing metabolic waste products are essential. Temperature and, in some cases, salinity, must be kept within bounds favorable for growth. When organisms become stressed they become susceptible to infection and disease. Stresses created by poor water quality can therefore impact yields both directly and indirectly. Strategies for dealing with water quality vary greatly, depending on the availability of resources and the characteristics of the cash crop. Where th