Aquaculture is defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as the farming of aquatic organisms (e.g., fish, mollusks, crustaceans, plants) and harvest by an owner who is responsible for the maintenance, protection, and enhancement of the cultivated stock.

Pangasius catfish are a common aquaculture product from SE Asia.


Aquaculture is considered the fastest growing food production sector.  In terms of global production, farmed fish accounted for 44.1% of total production from capture fisheries and aquaculture in 2014 (FAO 2016).  While most farmed fish go directly to human consumption, not all wild harvest fisheries do.  Consequently, farmed fish provided more fish to the global food supply than capture fisheries for the first time in 2014 (FAO 2016). (fishionary.fisheries.org/aquaculture)