aquaculture

noun

aqua·​cul·​ture ˈä-kwə-ˌkəl-chər How to pronounce aquaculture (audio)
ˈa-
variants or less commonly aquiculture
: the cultivation of aquatic organisms (such as fish or shellfish) especially for food
aquacultural adjective
aquaculture transitive verb
aquaculturist noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 China insists the platform supports aquaculture operations. Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025 Already, an aquaculture research project at the university intended to improve food security in Africa and Asia, which was funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, has been paused. Andrea Fuller, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for aquaculture

Word History

Etymology

Latin aqua + English -culture (as in agriculture)

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aquaculture was in 1864

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Cite this Entry

“Aquaculture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aquaculture. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

aquaculture

noun
aqua·​cul·​ture ˈak-wə-ˌkəl-ˌchər How to pronounce aquaculture (audio)
äk-
: the cultivation of living things (as fish or shellfish) naturally occurring in water
aquaculturist noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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