Oct 11 2008
Aquaculture Business
Aquaculture is the business of raising plants, fish and shellfish - even inland in large tanks designed for this purpose. If you’re not into raising livestock, perhaps raising fish or hydroponic plants would be the right small farm business for you to start!
The most common fish and shellfish raised in aquaculture, according to SeaWeb are:
- Carp
- Clams
- Catfish
- Mussels
- Oysters
- Salmon
- Shrimp
- Striped Bass
- Sturgeon
- Tilapia
- Trout
Each species requires different conditions to raise them. Some require large areas, while others can be raised in a smaller area, even in barns. Learning which habitat suits them will determine which species could be cultivated best in your area.
There are also several different types of aquaculture practiced around the world. They include:
Polyculture - where two or more species are raised in one system. The most popular practice is fish in rice paddies as practiced in China.
Organic Aquaculture - the plants and animals in the system live off each other, with no added antibiotics or genetically engineered organisms.
Hydroponics - raising plants in nutrient-rich water instead of soil.
Ocean Ranching - the release of farm-raised juvenile fish into the wild to supplement wild fisheries.
Pond System - perhaps one of the easiest methods of aquaculture for small farmers. Ponds can be man-made or natural. Carp, Catfish and Tilapia can be grown in a pond system.
If you’d like to learn more about aquaculture, visit the following sources:
USDA Alternative Farming Systems Information Center
Aquaculture Network Information
~~Charlotte
