Difference Between Aquaculture and Fisheries

Aquaculture vs. Fisheries

Aquaculture and fisheries are related to one another, and one can hardly make out any difference between the two. Aquaculture and fisheries are both concerned with the cultivation and trading of fish and aquatic products. Though aquaculture and fisheries have more similarities between them, they come with certain differences.

Fisheries are concerned with fish or shellfish. They mainly deal with catching, processing, and selling fish. On the other hand, aquaculture is related to the cultivation of both aquatic animals and aquatic plants. Aquaculture is also called “fish farming,” and it involves the natural or controlled cultivation of shellfish, fish, and seaweed in freshwater 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 does not pertain to cultivating and harvesting fish alone. Aquaculture is a science that involves all aspects of marine life. Aquaculture is a business that involves the production and marketing of shrimps, oysters, and other animals.

Another difference that can be noticed is that pearls are products that are only gotten through aquaculture and not through fisheries.

Though one can find slight differences between the two, “fishery” is a term so closely related to aquaculture. Fisheries and aquaculture help in the sustainability of fish and also allow the population of fish to increase.

About 90 percent of the fish and shellfish are harvested through wild fisheries. However, the wild fisheries’ stock has seen a decline in recent years, and aquaculture is considered to be a way for sustaining these wild fisheries’ stock.

Fisheries and aquaculture come in various types. While fisheries can be saltwater or freshwater, wild or farmed, an aquaculture can be Mariculture or an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture type.

Summary:

1. Fisheries are concerned with fish or shellfish. They mainly deal with catching, processing, and selling fish. Meanwhile, an aquaculture is related to the cultivation of both aquatic animals and aquatic plants.
2. While fisheries are solely related to catching wild fish or raising and harvesting fish, aquaculture is a science that involves all aspects of marine life.
3. While fisheries can be saltwater or freshwater, wild or farmed, an aquaculture can be Mariculture or an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture type.
4. Pearls are products that are only gotten through aquaculture and not through fisheries.
5. About 90 percent of the fish and shellfish are harvested through wild fisheries. As the wild fisheries’ stock has seen a decline in recent years, aquaculture is considered to be a way for sustaining these wild fisheries’ stock.

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