Aquatic Farming

Coastal waters are under immense pressure due to over-exploitation. Inadequate coastal protection and enforcement appears to be failing and the issue is becoming a real, pressing matter.

Aquaculture is the cultivation of aquatic animals and plants, especially fish, shellfish, and seaweed, in a natural, controlled marine or freshwater environment – also known as underwater agriculture.

Aquaculture is still in its infancy, but the demand for fresh seafood is increasing and the resource is increasingly exposed to exploitation. Aquaculture is a sustainable and healthy approach to job creation. Above ground fishing projects have been described as “profitable, affordable, repeatable, transportable, lockable and stackable”. The aquaculture sector has seen a worldwide growth rate of 9% a year since 1973 and the commercial fish farming industry globally was valued by the United Nations in access of R600 billion in the year 2008.

Aquaculture has been earmarked as a feasible initiative to assist in meeting the rising demand for seafood, it provides stress relief to over-exploitation and it is essential for future food security.