Aqua Science is the multi-disciplinary study of the Earths Oceanic and
fresh water environments. About three-quarters of the Earth's surface
is covered with water, so aqua science has emerged as an important subject
area. Also known as Aquatic Science, the subject encompasses a range of
disciplines concerned with the oceans, rivers, lakes, streams, ponds,
wetlands etc, their geology and composition, and the life forms that live
in them. It tries to predict the quality of life for future generations,
the impact of greenhouse gas emissions, ozone depletion, and changes in
currents and ocean temperature. In a broad sense it studies the earths
interrelated elements such as atmosphere, oceans and land mass, the changes
in their processes, and their relationship to the changes happening to
the earth.
Important subject areas under Aquatic Science include Aquaculture which
refers to the cultivation of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans,
molluscs and aquatic plants under controlled conditions; Oceonography
which explores oceans and estuaries by integrating the principles of Biology,
Chemistry, Geology, Meteorology and Physics to study; Limnology which
studies rivers, lakes, streams, ponds etc using the same principles of
basic sciences, Marine geology etc.
Aquaculture involves cultivating freshwater and saltwater populations
under controlled conditions, and can be contrasted with commercial fishing,
which is the harvesting of wild fish. It further covers an important subject
area called Mariculture which refers to aquaculture practiced in marine
environments. Particular kinds of aquaculture include algaculture (the
production of kelp/seaweed and other algae); fish farming; shrimp farming,
shellfish farming, and the growing of cultured pearls. Aquaculture is
nothing but the commercial breeding and farming of various species of
fish and aquatic species under controlled conditions. The main aspect
of aquaculture is fish cultivation which is aimed at human consumption
and for industrial and medicinal purposes. Aquaculture is perhaps one
of the oldest industries in the world. One of the first known countries
to adopt aquaculture is China in 2500 BC. Aquaculture however expanded
and became a full fledged industry only in the 20th century.
Aquaculture and fisheries is related to one another and one can hardly
make out any difference between the two. Though Aquaculture and fisheries
have more similarities between them, there is a significant difference
between aquaculture and fisheries. Fisheries are concerned with fish or
shellfish. It mainly deals with catching, processing and selling of fish.
On the other hand, Aquaculture is related to the cultivation of both aquatic
animals and aquatic plants. Aquaculture is also called as 'fish farming'
and it involves the natural or controlled cultivation of shellfish, fish
and seaweed in fresh water and marine environments. Fisheries are solely
related to catching wild fish or raising and harvesting fish through aquaculture
or fish farming. On the other hand, Aquaculture is not pertained to cultivating
and harvesting fishes alone. While fishery professionals focus on commercial
aspects of sea food production, processing and marketing, aquaculturists
focus on the production and breeding of all varieties of commercial aquatic
species. Aquaculture is a science that involves all aspects of marine
life. Some examples of aquaculture include raising catfish and tilapia
in freshwater ponds, growing cultured pearls, and farming salmon in net-pens
set out in a bay.
Farmers, who breed and grow shellfish, crustaceans, finfish or aquatic
plants for profit in controlled or semi-controlled settings are called
aquaculturists. In general, aquaculturists may work on ocean pens off
the coast growing marine finfish, or on inland farms where freshwater
species can be cultivated in ponds. Aquaculturists are responsible for
designing and construction of fish farming ponds and fish hatchery units
as well as aquarium management for the production of ornamental fish species
which has great export value. Aquaculturists may be concerned with the
raising of aquatic animals and plants for reasons such as production of
food, stocking of public water bodies, and for public or home aquaria.
