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The Fascinating World of Aquaculture: Comparing the Framework Of Other Systems And Its Effect On The Surroundings

Fish farming is the rearing of fish, shell fish and aquatic plants in natural and artificial ponds or tanks, and is rapidly growing sector of today’s food production system. As world population continuously rises, practical, efficient, and environmentally friendly aquaculture systems remain imperative. The following are the subtopics that will be discussed in this article: The major types of aquaculture systems that exist today Aquaculture and its effects on water quality and the surrounding environment Technology application in today’s aquaculture industry. Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) practices and options will be also described, in addition to the advantages and the challenges related to this practice.

Kind of Aquaculture Production Systems

Aquaculture systems can be broadly categorized into three main types: Ponds, tanks, as well as recirculating systems are an ideal match in various fish farming practices.

Ponds

Pond culture is perhaps the most traditional and oldest of methods of culturing aquatic organisms. Ponds can be natural occurring or artificial, and can range, in size from garden and backyard ponds, to large scale aquaculture farms. The main benefit of pond systems is their cheap and comparably simple design making it rather suitable for the smallholder farmers and hobbyists. However, pond systems have been viewed to be more impaired by environmental conditions like weather variation and water pollution that affects the fish and other organisms in the water body.

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Tanks

Tank production system is another growing method of rearing aquatic animals and plants, especially in the urban and home environment. Tanks can also be manufactured using plastic, fiberglass or metal and would be available in different sizes. Tank systems provide better control over the quality of water, temperature and other environmental parameters, which results in higher growth rates and hence the yields than the pond systems. Furthermore, use of tank systems is economical when it comes to the space, thus common among people with limited space for cultivation.

Recirculating Systems

Recirculating aquaculture systems (R AS) are relatively new tank-raising systems in which water is reused and filtered using very modern technology. They said that in an RAS, which the company adopts, water is constantly recycled through a filtration and treatment system which means that, water usage is lowered and the effects of the RAS on the environment are less dire. There are many advantages of using RAS that can make them quite efficient and productive; in fact they are being applied more frequently in commercial and research facilities. However, it can sometimes be the more costly system to install and run, compared to pond or tank now mainstream systems because of the complicated technology used.

Effects of Aquaculture Systems to the Water and the Surrounding Environment

Many types of aquaculture systems can improve water quality and the immediate and broader environment depending on the design used and the practices followed.

Water Quality

On this basis, it can be convincingly affirmed that various types of aquaculture, especially those located in natural water bodies, have a rather substantial impact on the quality of water.

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However, high stocking density, wastes generation, and poor biosecurity measures result in high ammonia, nitrate and other pollutant levels that may be toxic to fish and other organisms. At the same time, it is necessary to note that used aquaculture systems provide high water quality and even increase it by using water filtration and purification.

Environmental Impact

There are also various influences of aquaculture systems concerning the environment, both detriment and benefits. For instance, if pond systems are promoted and not well controlled, they lead to habitat destruction, and destruction of habitats whereas RAS systems can greatly reduce the need for wild fish feed and prevent destruction of inhabited habitats. But all types of aquaculture require strict control and management in order to avoid disease transmission, escape of stocked fish and competition with native stocks.

How Technology is Applied in the Current Practice of Aquaculture

Technology is vital to today’s aquaculture because it allows the farmer to increase the output, achieve higher yields, and raise the standard of fish farming. Some of these technologies that farmers are widely using include automation, sensors and artificial intelligence among others.

Automation

Automated in alternative, therefore, is the use of machinery and technology that would otherwise be operated manually. Self feeding methods such as computerized feeding, can be beneficial in terms of time and costs while feeding the fish with balance diet. It also means that through monitoring systems, farmers are in a position to identify any problems and act on them thereby reducing on the diseases and losses likely to occur.

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Sensors and AI

Technology in particular is applied in the monitoring of water quality and feed input together with the application of sensors and AI. Using AI algorithms for the analysis of sensor data can help farmers receive real time information on what is happening at the farm and what is likely to happen in the future. For instance, it can be applied identifying abnormalities in behavior of fish or even in note of impending diseases with a view of having early interventions.

Potential advantages and disadvantages of IMTA Systems.

IMTA or integrated multi-trophic Aquaculture is a form of sustainable Aquaculture.It is more than one type of aquatic species is cultured each of the species occupy a different position in the food chain. IMTA systems can have several benefits, including:

Lower Influence to the Environment

Da Silva and Skonberg adopted IMTA systems because these can reduce the reliance on wild fish for feed and harmonize with the ecosystem by using different species in the fish farms. For instance, in IMTA where fish is being cultured the seaweed and the other algae have a way of purifying water and thus enhancing its quality.

Diversified Income

IMTA systems can therefore help to offer farmers with a more diverse stream of income by culturing different types of aquatic species. It could also assist in managing financial risks and improving the capacity to survive changes in the market or any other conditions.

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Improved Resource Use

IMTA systems can enhance resource utilization through the recycling input wastes and by-products in one species to another. For instance, fish waste that is produced can be recycled in feeding seaweed for a more efficient operation without generating waste.

However, IMTA systems also have some limitations, including:

Technical Complexity

IMTA systems can be more specialised than conventional aquaculture systems, Azcona, et al, p. 190, implying that they are more difficult to put in to practice and manage.

Market Challenges

The above mentioned IMTA systems can experience market risks due to lack of awareness and resistance to double-barreled purchase of different aquatic products. Further, multiple-species production of foods may entail more intricate processing and packing technologies and techniques.

Conclusion

Aquaculture is an emerging business and a continuously developing industry where new technologies, systems, and approaches appear regularly. Furthering the development in aquaculture remains an important area of study as long as the development is done in an efficient and environmentally friendly manner. It is encouraging news to note that IMTA systems are beneficial and practical management tools in relating the proper growth of aquaculture for sustaining the world’s growing population without damaging water resources.

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