For thousands of years, people have harvested the bounties of the sea and cultivated its “crops” as well. As global demand for fish increases, farm-raised stocks will become more important to the food supply. The United Nations reports that nearly half of the world's total food fish supply comes from aquaculture. World aquaculture remains the fastest growing food-producing sector, yielding 51.7 million metric tons (MT) with a value of $78.8 billion in 2006, or an annual growth rate of nearly 7 percent. Worldwide, more than 2.9 billion people rely on fish as an important source of animal protein, healthy lipids and essential micronutrients.  (FAO 2009)  March 2012 ... Aquaculture

Links

• Aquaculture, Economic Research Service (ERS), USDA.
• Aquaculture, National Agricultural Law Center, University of Arkansas, 2009 - An overview article on the subject is included, along with a listing of and links to major statutes and regulations that currently affect the industry.
• Aquaculture and the Environment - A user-friendly discussion of the environmental benefits and risks of aquaculture.
• Aquaculture at Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii - This site provides overviews and links to commercial ventures in this industry incubator program. These include finfish and non-fish aquaculture research and commercialization programs.
• Aquaculture Certification Council - A nongovernmental body established to certify social, environmental and food safety standards at aquaculture facilities throughout the world. This Missouri nonprofit, nonmember public benefit corporation builds on elements of the voluntary Global Aquaculture Alliance Responsible Aquaculture Program system that combines site inspections and effluent sampling with sanitary controls, therapeutic controls and product traceability.
• Aquaculture Impacts on the Environment - A review of academic publications on this topic.
• Aquaculture Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Provides fisheries market news and statistic summaries (aquaculture results by catch,available grants, new marine product food safety guidelines, endangered natural stocks, export guidelines for shipments to the European Union, links and addresses of many National Marine Fisheries Support Offices, and other information. Site includes information on Department of Commerce Aquaculture Policy, the National Aquaculture Act of 1980, recent NOAA Aquaculture Policy and breaking research and legislative news.
• Aquaculture Sold: 2007 and 2002, 2007 Census of Agriculture, National Ag Statistics Service (NASS), USDA, 2009.
• Aquamedia, Federation of European Aquaculture Producers - An Internet information and resource for aquaculture and fisheries. Contains directories, news, statistics and other related information.
• Baitfish Production in the United States, Burtle, G., University of Georgia; and L. Dorman and L. Gray, University of Arkansas  - History of the industry, overview of production systems and marketing strategies.
• Import and Exports of Fishery Products 2010, Fisheries Statistics Division, NMFS, 2011.
• NMFS Commercial Services: Aquaculture and Seafood - Contains leads, current and historical trade statistics, import requirements, news and regulatory information. This mission of the Trade and Commercial Service staff is to promote and facilitate trade for the U.S. seafood and aquaculture industries by expanding existing markets and opening new ones for the U.S. producers and processors.
• The National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007, U.S. Aquaculture, Aquaculture Program, NOAA.
• Pond Dynamics/Aquaculture - The Pond Dynamics/Aquaculture Collaborative Research Support Program (PD/A CRSP) represents an international, multi-disciplinary effort to improve human nutrition through pond aquaculture research. The work of the PD/A CRSP benefits both domestic and international aquaculture.
• Salmon farming as a Net Producer of Fish Protein and Oil - Summary of a groundbreaking analysis of the actual protein input and output in salmon production.
• The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2010: Facing challenges and seizing opportunities, FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, UN, July 2011 - The United States ranks 13th in total aquaculture production. The nation imports significant volumes of marine aquaculture products from other countries, resulting in an annual seafood trade deficit of well over $9 billion.
• Top 10 Consumed Seafood, National Fisheries Institute, about seafood.com, 2010 - Lists the top ten species consumed in the United States by pounds per person.
• Trends in Aquaculture - A review of potential trends in aquaculture production.
   

Links checked March 2012.