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
Did you know?
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
Asian carp, introduced into the U.S. in the 1970s by the aquaculture industry, are overwhelming the Great Lakes, crowding out other species.
—
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 7 Apr. 2025
Home to over 8 million honeybees across eight apiaries, advanced hydroponics and aquaculture technology, Southall leads with sustainability and innovation in mind to provide amenities and culinary offerings rooted in the land’s past, present and future.
—Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Their catch would be turned into protein-rich fishmeal that gets fed to chickens, pigs and aquaculture fish.
—Ian Urbina, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2025
In particular, the CBF cited potential cuts to the state’s Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund and the Clean Water Commerce Program, which contribute funding to oyster plantings as well as aquaculture operations.
—Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 24 Mar. 2025
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Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 7 Apr. 2025
Home to over 8 million honeybees across eight apiaries, advanced hydroponics and aquaculture technology, Southall leads with sustainability and innovation in mind to provide amenities and culinary offerings rooted in the land’s past, present and future.
—Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Their catch would be turned into protein-rich fishmeal that gets fed to chickens, pigs and aquaculture fish.
—Ian Urbina, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2025
In particular, the CBF cited potential cuts to the state’s Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund and the Clean Water Commerce Program, which contribute funding to oyster plantings as well as aquaculture operations.
—Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 24 Mar. 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 7 May. 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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