Farmed seafood, commonly referred to as Aquaculture, plays a crucial role in promoting seafood production, generating employment opportunities, restoring endangered species and habitats, and improving the resilience of coastal regions. This practice involves breeding, nurturing, and harvesting a variety of aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish, and plants. Aquaculture operates in coastal areas, oceans, and inland tanks and ponds throughout the United States.
The farming of aquatic species, known as aquaculture, is a highly effective method for protein production that has made significant contributions to the enhancement of nutrition and food security in numerous regions globally. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization predicts that the proportion of farm-raised fish and other seafood consumed by humans, already exceeding 50 percent, will continue to increase. Over 500 species of aquatic organisms are currently being cultivated on a global scale.
In the United States, aquaculture is found in coastal areas, as well as in oceans, tanks, and ponds located inland. Globally, over 500 species of aquatic life are currently being raised as farmed goods.
Both multinational companies and some of the most impoverished farmers in developing nations engage in aquaculture.
Fish holds cultural significance for many people and is also known for its exceptional nutritional value, as it provides protein, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and important micronutrients.
Aquaculture greatly benefits from aquatic vegetation such as seaweed, which is invaluable for its provision of nourishment, economic opportunity, and versatile industrial applications.
Herbivorous fish and mollusks make up the majority, 80%, of animals used for aquaculture production.
Aquaculture is expected to be the main source of growth in the fisheries industry in the future, as the capture fisheries have had consistent catches and the sector has shown dynamic performance for the past 30 years.
Aquaculture vs Aquaponics
Aquaponics involves the oversight of a holistic environment comprising three key categories of living organisms: fish, plants, and bacteria.
Aquaponics amalgamates recirculating aquaculture with hydroponics, creating a seamless system. The flow of water in an aquaponics system starts from the fish tank and passes through filters and plant grow beds before returning to the fish.
Ammonia and other fish waste are excreted and must be eliminated in aquaponics. The solid waste is removed by a mechanical filter and the dissolved waste undergoes biofiltration.
The biofilter aids in the nitrification process, creating an environment for bacteria to transform excessive ammonia, harmful to fish, into nitrate – a nutrient that plants can access. The enriched water travels through plant grow beds where the plants take in the nutrients, leading to purified water returning to the fish tank.
If the system is balanced correctly, flora and fauna can thrive together in symbiosis and contribute towards the formation of a closed biome.
Aquaponics involves redirecting aquaculture waste into plant beds instead of releasing it into the environment. This method provides a sustainable, cost-effective, and non-chemical source of nutrients for the plants.
Plants and Fish for Aquaponics
Freshwater fish of any kind are suitable for use in an aquaponic setup. Although tilapia is the most commonly cultivated species, catfish, bluegill, trout, and red-claw crayfish are also being raised by aquaponic gardeners. If you are not interested in consuming your fish, this is not an issue as decorative freshwater fish, such as koi and goldfish, available from pet stores are also viable. However, it is important to take into account the ideal temperature range for the fish to flourish and survive. For instance, tilapia can survive temperatures as low as the 60s, but they won’t thrive until it reaches the mid-70s. Trout can survive up to a maximum temperature of 65, but they won’t thrive until the temperature of their water is between the high 40s and low 50s.
An aquaponics system has few limitations when it comes to the types of plants that can be grown. However, plants like blueberries and azaleas, which need an acidic environment with a pH of 4.0 – 5.0, won’t thrive in an aquaponic system. This is because these systems typically maintain a neutral pH level.
Is it possible for this to function in any climate? Yes, with some precautions. A backyard greenhouse is optimal since it allows for a suitable atmosphere for both your fish and plants, and natural light is cost-free. Additionally, all the water contained within the fish tank, sump tank, and grow beds can act as thermal mass in your greenhouse, aiding in the moderation of temperature fluctuations. If you don’t have access to a backyard greenhouse, you could always utilize indoor spaces instead. Numerous aquaponics enthusiasts have allocated their garages or basements for their systems.
Good News about Aquaponic Gardening
- Aquaponic gardening enables home fish farming. You can now feel good about eating fish again.
- Aquaponic gardening uses 90% less water than soil-based gardening because the water is re-circulated and only that which the plants take up or evaporates is ever replaced.
- Aquaponic gardening results in two crops for one input (fish feed).
- Aquaponic gardening is four to six times more productive on a square-foot basis than soil-based gardening. This is because with aquaponic gardening, you can pack plants about twice as densely as you can in soil and the plants grow two to three times as fast as they do in soil.
- Aquaponic systems only require a small amount of energy to run a pump and aeration for the fish. This energy can be provided through renewable methods.
- Aquaponics does not rely on the availability of good soil, so it can be set up anywhere, including inner city parking lots, abandoned warehouses, schools, restaurants, home basements, and garages.
- Aquaponic gardening is free from weeds, watering, and fertilizing concerns, and because it is done at a waist-high level, there is no back strain.
- Aquaponic gardening is necessarily organic. The natural fish waste provides all the food the plants need. Pesticides would be harmful to the fish so they are never used. Hormones, antibiotics, and other fish additives would be harmful to the plants so they are never used. And the result is every bit as flavorful as soil-based organic produce, with the added benefit of fresh fish for a safe, healthy source of protein.
- Aquaponics is completely scalable. The same basic principles apply to a system based on a 10-gallon aquarium and to a commercial operation.
Establishing and maintaining an aquaponic garden in your backyard or home is a simple task if you adhere to certain fundamental principles. The use of repurposed materials like used bathtubs and shipping containers used for liquid edibles, or acquiring a system kit may be helpful if you do not possess much DIY skills. The essential aspect is to initiate a system promptly and lessen reliance on purchasing fish from stores. Consequently, there is no need to depend on the availability of fish from supermarkets.
