Aquaculture is an industry that involves raising aquatic animals for food, such as fish and shrimp. The industry is increasing rapidly around the world. It’s estimated that 90.5 million tons of farmed aquatic animals were produced in 2018 – a nearly two-fold increase from the year 2000. The largest producers of farmed aquatic animals are found in eastern and southeastern Asia, including countries like Thailand, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. Other notable countries include Egypt, which ranks among the top ten producers of farmed aquatic animals. Most aquaculture occurs in lakes and other freshwater bodies, though some countries are starting to use ocean-based aquaculture to increase production.
Aquaculture has been shown to be an environmentally friendly way to meet the protein requirements of nine billion people, while using a fraction of the resources found in agriculture. It’s especially effective for raising omnivores, such as tilapia, carp, and catfish. In addition to meeting our growing protein needs, aquaculture can also help save our planet’s resources.
A business in aquaculture can be very profitable, with relatively little startup costs. In fact, the average startup costs for aquaculture businesses range from $3141 to $35923. Another benefit of aquaculture is its high customer retention rates. Once a client has a positive experience with your services, they’ll likely recommend you to their friends and family. Aquaculture is a niche industry with high profit potential, and can provide a high-paying job for someone with a passion for aquaculture.
Feeding is a key part of aquaculture production. Unlike other animals that live on land, fish need fewer calories to grow. This is because they live in a buoyant environment and don’t have to fight gravity. As a result, a pound of feed is equivalent to two pounds of farmed fish, chicken, pork, and beef. It is therefore very important to choose a sustainable aquaculture system.
