aquaculture

American  

[ak-wuh-kuhl-cher, ah-kwuh-] / ˈæk wəˌkʌl tʃər, ˈɑ kwə- /

noun

1. the cultivation of aquatic animals and plants, especially fish, shellfish, and seaweed, in natural or controlled marine or freshwater environments; underwater agriculture.

---

aquaculture British  

/ ˈækwəˌkʌltʃə /

noun

1. the cultivation of freshwater and marine resources, both plant and animal, for human consumption or use

---

aquaculture Scientific  

/ ăk′wə-kŭl′chər,ä′kwə- /

1. The science of cultivating marine or freshwater food fish, such as salmon and trout, or shellfish, such as oysters and clams, under controlled conditions.

2. See hydroponics

---

Other Word Forms

• aquaculturist
  noun
• aquacultural
  adjective

---

Etymology

Origin of aquaculture

First recorded in 1865–70; aqua- + (agri)culture

---

Explanation

The practice of raising fish or water plants for food is known as aquaculture. A shrimp farmer works in the aquaculture industry. The word aquaculture combines the Latin aqua-, "water," with culture, also from a Latin root, meaning "agriculture" or "a cultivating." Originally, this term referred only to fish farming. Today, you can also practice aquaculture by growing seaweed and algae, or raising shellfish like oysters and scallops. Today, aquaculture provides about half of all the fish and shellfish eaten by humans.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

aquaculture

“It takes around three years from the time a salmon starts out as an egg until it reaches harvest size,” said Bjarne Johansen, Nordlaks’ chief aquaculture officer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026

"These species also clog up aquaculture pens, marine infrastructure, and machinery such as boat propellors," he explained.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

In April 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14276, “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness,” which instructed government officials to reduce regulatory burdens and boost the commercial fishing and aquaculture sectors in the United States.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

McKeen recalled how he and other farmers at the time would pitch restaurants on serving fresh oysters, while simultaneously developing a scrappy style of aquaculture to propagate them in the Damariscotta.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026

Hawaii was also unique within Polynesia in using mass labor for aquaculture, by constructing large fishponds in which milkfish and mullet were grown.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---