Fish farming:
- About half of the fish eaten today is raised globally through fish farming.
- Some of the most common fish species that are farmed include tuna, salmon, halibut, cod, and trout.
- The aquafarms can be in a variety of forms such as mesh cages submerged in water or solid enclosures on land.
- However, the fish farms can cause damage to the ecosystem by causing diseases, bringing in pollutants and invasive species.
Methods of fish farming:
Fish farming involves the following methods:
1. Extensive fish farming:
- In this method of farming, economic and labour inputs are low.
- Natural food production plays an important role in this type of farming.
- Fertilizers can also be added to increase the fertility and hence, the production of fish.
2. Semi-intensive fish farming:
- This method includes mediocre levels of economic and labour inputs.
- The production can be improved by supplementary feeding or by adding fertilizers.
- Thus, the yield of fish is higher.
3. Intensive fish farming:
- In this method, the ponds are filled with as many fishes as possible.
- The fish are provided with supplementary feed.
Fish production:
- Fishes are a rich source of protein and have a high nutritional value.
- In early times, the production of fish was highly dependent on manual methods i.e catching fish.
- However, most of the captured fish were used for commercial purposes and were barely eaten.
- Thus, another method to improve the production of fish was made that includes farming and husbandry of aquatic organisms that have economical importance.
- This process is known as aquaculture.
Methods of fish production
Fish production can be done in two ways:
1. Capture fishery:
- Fishes growing in a natural environment are harvested by capture fishery.
- This method is also known as a wild fishery.
2. Culture fishery:
- It is the cultivation of fish in water bodies under a controlled environment.
- It is also known as fish farming or pisciculture.
The fishery is further divided into:
1. Inland fishery
2. Marine fishery
Inland fishery:
- In this technique, fishes are captured in freshwater bodies, such as lakes, ponds, rivers, and tanks.
- The method used here is generally pisciculture since the capture fishery doesn't give a high yield.
- 5-6 species of fish are reared in one water body.
- While selecting fish species, it is kept in mind that they do not compete with other fish's nutritional requirements.
- Common species reared are Rohu, Catla, Grass Carp, Common Carp, etc.
Marine fishery:
- In the Indian peninsula, we have a coastline of 7517 km. Thus, fishing comes out as a source of livelihood for about 14 million people.
- The marine fishery is further divided into coastal fisheries, which are closer to the shore and off-shore or deep-sea fisheries, which are farther or deeper in the sea.
- Sardines, mackerel, tuna, Pomfret, mussels, prawns, oysters, etc. are some common types.
- Echo-sounders and satellites are used to locate the large fishes in the sea, to increase the yield.
Advantages of fish farming:
- The farmed fish is rich in high-quality protein, thus ideal for human consumption.
- Fish farming can be inculcated in the already existing farm to make additional income and improve the management of water.
- The farmers can select the desired species of fish.
- Fishes in a pond are also safe from predators. Thus, they are secure and can be harvested when required.