Aquaculture Systems and Key Concepts

Vocabulary flashcards covering aquaculture engineering, production intensities, system types, water parameters, historical eras, and major species.

Aquaculture

The science and technology of producing aquatic plants and animals for human consumption, also known as water farming, underwater agriculture, or fish farming under controlled or semi-controlled conditions.

Aquaculture Engineering

The application of general engineering aspects, including material technology, building design and construction, mechanical engineering, and environmental engineering, to the production of aquatic species.

Extensive Aquaculture

Production systems characterized by low production per unit volume, low stocking density, minimal artificial inputs and human intervention, low technology, and very low investment per unit volume.

Intensive Aquaculture

Production systems with high production per unit volume, requiring higher investment costs, advanced technology, artificial inputs, additional feeding, disease control methods, and effective breeding systems.

Semi-intensive Aquaculture

Production systems that combine extensive and intensive methods, such as intensive fry production combined with extensive ongrowing.

Super-intensive Aquaculture

Technologically advanced aquaculture systems designed to achieve the highest possible stocking densities and yields.

Polyculture Aquaculture

The practice of raising multiple species together in the same system to improve efficiency and yield, often used in extensive and semi-intensive systems.

Monoculture Aquaculture

The practice of raising a single species in a controlled environment, common in intensive and super-intensive systems.

Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA)

A system involving the cultivation of species from different trophic levels within the same system, where each species provides a benefit to the other.

Open Systems

Aquaculture systems characterized by a constant exchange of water with natural water bodies.

Earthen Ponds

The most traditional and widely used open production units in aquaculture.

Cages

Open aquaculture enclosures usually placed in open water bodies such as lakes or coastal areas.

Pens

Aquaculture enclosures situated within a water body that are restricted by nets or other physical barriers.

Raceways

Aquaculture channels designed with a continuous flow of water.

Semi-closed Systems

Aquaculture production systems that allow limited water exchange.

Flow-Through Systems

Systems in which water flows through the setup once and is not recirculated.

Closed Systems

Aquaculture systems that recirculate water and have no exchange with natural water bodies.

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS)

Highly controlled aquaculture environments utilizing water treatment components to clean and recycle water.

Aquaponics

An integrated farming method that combines aquaculture with hydroponic plant cultivation.

Hybrid Systems

Aquaculture systems that combine structural or operational features from both open and closed systems.

Closed Production Units

Production units where fish are kept in an enclosed unit completely separated from the outside environment.

Open Production Units

Production units with permeable walls, such as nets, where farmed fish are partly affected by the surrounding environment.

Gravity Systems

Land-based water supply systems where the water source is located at a higher altitude than the farm, allowing water to flow naturally by gravity.

Pumping Systems

Water supply setups used when the water source is at an equal or lower altitude compared to the farm.

Tidal Through-Flow Farms

Coastal aquaculture farms where water supply and exchange are achieved by utilizing natural tides.

Flow-Through Farm

A farm operational classification where water is used once and flows directly through the system.

Re-use or Recirculating System

A farm setup where water is used several times, with outlet water being recycled back into the system.

Fresh Water

Water containing very low concentrations of dissolved salts.

Brackish Water

A mixture of fresh and seawater with a salinity level ranging from $0.5$ to $30$\text{ ppt}.

Mariculture

Specialized farming of marine organisms in saltwater environments with salinity levels of $35$\text{ ppt} or higher.

Dissolved Oxygen

The amount of oxygen present in water that is accessible to fish, invertebrates, and other aquatic organisms.

Stocking Density

The number or total weight of cultured organisms per unit volume.

Aeration

The process of mixing, circulating, or dissolving air into a liquid.

Traditional Coastal Era (Pre-1970s)

Historical period dominated by passive brackish water milkfish earthen ponds relying exclusively on natural tide exchange, zero mechanical aeration, low stocking densities, and high vulnerability to climate variations.

Commercial Expansion Era (1980s-2000s)

Historical period marked by rapid culture intensification, adoption of artificial feeds, diesel pumps, paddlewheel aerators, unregulated expansion, and severe disease outbreaks like White Spot Syndrome Virus.

Modern Engineering Era (2000s-Present)

Current era focused on intensive closed-loop systems, High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) circular marine cages, solar-assisted continuous aeration, biosecurity, and strict environmental compliance.

R.A. 8550 (Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998)

Philippine law stipulating that no more than $10\%$ of the suitable water surface area in all lakes and rivers can be used for aquaculture purposes like fish pens, cages, and traps.

Seaweeds (Kappaphycus alvarezii / Eucheuma)

Marine/coastal organisms cultured via monoline floating rafts or bottom stakes, generating the highest volume output in the Philippines ($\sim 60\%$ of national production).

Milkfish (Chanos chanos)

Top finfish commodity in the Philippines ($\sim 400,000+\text{ MT/year}$), cultured in brackishwater and marine environments using earthen ponds and net cages.

Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Second major finfish commodity in the Philippines ($\sim 280,000+\text{ MT/year}$), cultured in freshwater environments using earthen ponds and floating lake cages.

Whiteleg Shrimp (Penaeus vannamei)

Highest value-density crustacean in Philippine aquaculture, cultured in brackishwater environments using lined intensive earthen ponds.

Asian/African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

High-density urban and peri-urban freshwater finfish cultured in concrete tanks and small earthen ponds.