aquaculture
noun
aqua·cul·ture
ˈä-kwə-ˌkəl-chər 
ˈa-
variants
or less commonly aquiculture
: the cultivation of aquatic organisms (such as fish or shellfish) especially for food
aquaculture
transitive verb
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For most of the modern history of aquaculture, only costly fish and shellfish like salmon and shrimp were harvested. But new technologies are allowing cheaper and more efficient cultivation of fish for food, and such common fish as cod are now being farmed. Seaweeds and other algae are also being grown--for food (mostly in Asia), cattle feed, fertilizer, and experimentally as a source of energy. Aquaculture is now the world's fastest-growing form of food production.
Examples of aquaculture in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
WorldFish's research and advocacy projects led to new legislation to support aquaculture in several countries including India, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Zambia, while helping restore fish species that had low populations.
—
Elisabeth Brier, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Opportunities for advanced research include aquaculture and fisheries, conservation, veterinary clinics and coral genetics.
—Carter Weinhofer, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
Those that live in rural barns, feed lots, or aquaculture ponds are monitored by cameras.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 7 Sep. 2025
The fish were introduced in the 1960s to get rid of seaweed without using chemicals in aquaculture facilities and sewage ponds in Arkansas.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aquaculture
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Elisabeth Brier, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Opportunities for advanced research include aquaculture and fisheries, conservation, veterinary clinics and coral genetics.
—Carter Weinhofer, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
Those that live in rural barns, feed lots, or aquaculture ponds are monitored by cameras.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 7 Sep. 2025
The fish were introduced in the 1960s to get rid of seaweed without using chemicals in aquaculture facilities and sewage ponds in Arkansas.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aquaculture
Cite this Entry
“Aquaculture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aquaculture. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
aquaculture
noun
aqua·cul·ture
ˈak-wə-ˌkəl-ˌchər
äk-
: the cultivation of living things (as fish or shellfish) naturally occurring in water
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