Introduction To Aquaculture Module No. 1
Introduction To Aquaculture Module No. 1
Introduction To Aquaculture Module No. 1
Introduction to Aquaculture
Module No. 1
A Module Exemplar
For Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
major Agricultural Education
(Third Year)
Overview
A Chinese proverb says something like the following: Give a man a fish and he will have food
for a day, teach a man how to fish and he will have food for a lifetime. To that we might add: Teach
a man how to grow fish and he can feed the world. As we shall see, the production of aquatic plants
and animals – a subject we call aquaculture – takes a variety of forms, including items that enter the
human food supply.
The purpose of this module is to introduce you to the subject of aquaculture and to acquaint
you with some of the techniques involved in aquatic organism – primarily aquatic animal – production.
The emphasis is placed on shellfish – such things as oysters, scallops, mussels and shrimp – as well
as on finfish. Both fresh- and saltwater culture are included. Many books on aquaculture look at details
on how to produce a particular type of animal: shrimp or salmon, for example. That approach is
excellent for the student or practitioner who has decided on a particular species or species group upon
which to concentrate. For the general reader who wants to gain some knowledge of the breadth of
aquaculture, a different approach is required. Here is the start of acquiring knowledge and information
in the world of Aquaculture.
Sorsogon State College
Castilla Campus
[Introduction to Aquaculture]
Course Description
This course deals with the principles, methods and developments in the culture of selected
organism in fresh, brackish and marine waters.
Course Objectives
I. Introduction:
Aquaculture is a combination of natural science, business management and tradecraft. The successful
aquaculturist needs to have many tools in his or her toolbox, or lacking those tools, needs to be a member
of a team that brings all the proper tools to the enterprise. Increasingly, individuals who select
aquaculture as a profession have received some formal education in the field. This is particularly true of
practitioners from developed countries, whether they work in one of those countries or in a developing
nation. Increasingly, there are also aquaculture classes or at least some aquaculture activity available in
high schools as well.
II. Module Objectives:
By the end of this module, you are expected to do the following:
1. Define Aquaculture.
2. Analyze the status of aquaculture industry in the Philippines.
3. Value the economic importance of aquaculture in the Philippines.
III. Learning Resources (topic discussion)
Aquaculture is the farming and husbandry of aquatic organisms under controlled or semi-
controlled conditions. The term ‘aquatic’ refers to a variety of water environments, including freshwater,
brackish water and marine. ‘Aquatic organisms’ that are of interest with regard to human food include a
wide variety of plants, invertebrates and vertebrates. Mariculture is a term reserved for the culture of
organisms in saltwater (from brackish to full strength seawater).
Why Aquaculture?
Today, we are in a situation where the capture fisheries are being fully exploited or overharvested
in nearly every case, yet the demand for seafood continues to rise. That increase in demand is fuelled in
part by the increasing human population but also by rising per capita consumption of seafood. We have
all heard about studies that seem to show certain health benefits from eating fish. One recent
recommendation was that everyone should eat at least two fish meals a week. So, demand is increasing,
while the supplies of fish are not increasing. How can we resolve this dilemma? The answer that has
been widely touted is aquaculture. The average consumer does not see any reduction in the availability
of seafood in restaurants or supermarkets and the overall amount of seafood in the markets of the world
continues to increase, despite the fact that capture fishery volumes are not increasing. This is because
aquaculture has been able to fill the gap. Currently, at least 20% of the fish and shellfish marketed
globally are produced by aquaculturists and that percentage can only be expected to grow. While the
demand for aquacultured products is increasing, opposition to aquaculture, or at least to many
aquaculture practices, is also increasing and is so strong in at least a few countries that it has curtailed
some forms of aquaculture development.
Sorsogon State College
In a system where animals
Castilla Campus are produced in a pastoral system and where the regrowth of vegetation is left entirely to nature,
[Introduction animals
the land could be In a system where are produced in a pastoral system and where the regrowth of vegetation is left
to Aquaculture]
entirely to nature, the land could be easily over-grazed to the extent that, while animals continue to reproduce and increase
in number, the vegetation is not given the opportunity to recover its normal growth. Indeed in many parts of the world what
used to be areas of lush vegetation have become desserts.
A. Essay Questions
Direction: Read the question carefully, explain your answer on separate sheet or paper.
Criteria Percentage
1. Originality 30%
2. Clear Idea/s 30%
3. Comprehensively 40%
Discussed
Total 100%
V. References:
Books
MISSION
A premier institution committed to provide industry relevant programs that are
anchored on a culture of research and entrepreneurship for the development of
Sorsogon and beyond.
CORE VALUES
L eadership
E xcellence
A ccountability
D iscipline
E nvironmental Stewardship
R esponsiveness to Change
S ocially Responsible