The Ultimate Aquaculture Quiz

Aquaculture is the farming of fish in a controlled environment, in either freshwater or saltwater.

The Chinese have cultivated and domesticated goldfish since around 800 A.D. Goldfish cultivation spread to Europe and other eastern countries in around 1650 A.D. and it was only in the late 1800s that goldfish moved indoors.

Fish is one of the most important sources of protein. Many of the world's poorest populations depend on fish as a protein source.

The demand for fish has doubled since the 1950s.

Overfishing has lead to the scarcity of some species of fish, such as Atlantic salmon and Chilean sea bass. This has boosted the aquaculture industry, where these fish are bred under controlled conditions to meet the demand for fish products.

The primary form of aquaculture is fish farming. This is the process of cultivating fish in man-made tanks for commercial purposes.

Marine organisms are cultivated in mariculture using saltwater or seawater. This is done using enclosed portions of the ocean or tanks filled with ocean water. Finfish, shellfish and sea plants, such as seaweed, are cultivated using this method.

Products cultivated in mariculture are used for cosmetics, fish meal and for jewelry, such as cultured pearls.

Most algae cultivated by algaculture is either microalgae or macroalgae. Macroalgae is commonly known as seaweed and can be difficult to grow due to its size and cultivation needs.

Open-pond systems, such as pools, ponds and lakes, are popular because they are cheap and easy to build and they produce the highest yields of algae. However, algae farms grow best within a particular range of temperature and light, which cannot be controlled in open-pond systems.

Close-ponds allow for light and temperature monitoring enabling more species of algae to grow. However, since the ponds are usually smaller, less algae is yielded.

Algae contains large amounts of lipid oil, which can be converted into biodiesel fuel. Algae grows very quickly, meaning it could be a renewable source of fuel.

IMTA systems are advanced systems of aquaculture, where waste products of one species become the food of another species. For example, shrimp and fish excrete phosphorous and ammonia, which is used by seaweed to grow. This makes IMTA systems both environmentally and economically sustainable.

Aquaculture possibilities were explored in the U.S. and Canada from the mid 1800s. However, only it was only in the late 1900s that aquaculture became widely practiced in the U.S.

Aquaculturist look for a site with the right conditions, including temperature, salinity and fertility. If these factors are right, organisms should be able to flourish.

Features of aquatic organisms that are considered for aquaculture are their reproductive habits, the requirement of eggs and larvae, the ability for the organism to adapt to crowded conditions and the feeding habits of the organism.

Fish farms may become overcrowded, leading to a build up of fish waste that can pollute the water. As fish rub against each other or against the tank walls, they get scratched or cut, providing an opening for diseases and infections.

Aquaculturists cultivate fish that easily adapt to high-density conditions, thereby decreasing the chances of overcrowding problems.

Sea lice are a problem for farmed fish, especially for Atlantic salmon.

Water may be contaminated with pesticides or other chemicals that get washed into it.