The Meaning of Aquaculture The term aquaculture refers to the cultivation of both marine and freshwater species and can range from land-based to open- ocean production.

What is Aquaculture Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish and even plants.

Aquaculture has been present within the coastal waters of Maine since the 1800s.

Aquaculture is rapidly increasing its yearly global harvest and seems to being hope to increase food production.

The environmental problems that are constantly being ignored have come to haunt aquaculture, forcing farmers to off- shore cages. Increasing demand for aquaculture products, increased production, ensures better products and better profits for investors.

PROS & CONS

Arguments in Favour of Aquaculture > Creates jobs in the community > Increases value on the city, state and national level. > Reduce seafood trade deficits > Can place more emphasis on protecting coastal waters from pollution

> May cause problems with other uses of the same bodies of water, such as fishermen, lobstermen or migrating fish > They could develop and transfer diseases and parasites to wild fish populations > Harm the livelihood of fishermen Arguments Against Aquaculture

Negative Impact The methods of fish farms, currently require high energy inputs and can cause environmental degradation similar to industrial/chemical agriculture or factory farming of livestock.

> Loss of natural habitat > Loss of genetic diversity > Replacement of self reliant indigenous fisheries with multinational corporations; > Pollution from concentrated sewage > High stress overcrowding > High concentrations of pathogens/parasites A Few Situations ;

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