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
One solution was to promote aquaculture, also known as fish or shellfish farming.
—
Christine Keiner, The Conversation, 28 Feb. 2025
Like other invasives, the carp were introduced in the 1960s to help aquaculture in the South, but have since spread to 31 states.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
Feeding on the Future: The Aquaculture Dilemma Stakeholders must decide: continue with business as usual, risking biodiversity collapse, food insecurity, and supply chain disruption—or rethink how the aquaculture sector operates.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
The funds have supported a wide range of projects, from shoreline restoration and coral reef rehabilitation to aquaculture research and red tide tracking.
—Alice Herman, Miami Herald, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for aquaculture
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Christine Keiner, The Conversation, 28 Feb. 2025
Like other invasives, the carp were introduced in the 1960s to help aquaculture in the South, but have since spread to 31 states.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
Feeding on the Future: The Aquaculture Dilemma Stakeholders must decide: continue with business as usual, risking biodiversity collapse, food insecurity, and supply chain disruption—or rethink how the aquaculture sector operates.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
The funds have supported a wide range of projects, from shoreline restoration and coral reef rehabilitation to aquaculture research and red tide tracking.
—Alice Herman, Miami Herald, 20 May 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 1 Jul. 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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