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
aqua·cul·tur·ist
variants
or less commonly aquiculturist
: a person who specializes in aquaculture
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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
ABC News, 4 June 2026
Both companies have long been esteemed for their practices in ethical aquaculture.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
Anson Wong, cofounder of Eat100 Also addressing food waste in Japan is Kai Hashizume, who cofounded Booon in 2022 to convert leftover food into a low-cost source of insect protein for aquaculture feed.
—Zinnia Lee, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
The only exception to that rule is for aquaculture enterprises.
—Tanya Babbar, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for aquaculture
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Noun
That data is crucial to understanding and adapting to climate change and to a vast array of industries on land and at sea like aquaculture, shipping especially through icy waters, coastal tourism, agriculture and even navies, Le Traon said.
—ABC News, 4 June 2026
Both companies have long been esteemed for their practices in ethical aquaculture.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
Anson Wong, cofounder of Eat100 Also addressing food waste in Japan is Kai Hashizume, who cofounded Booon in 2022 to convert leftover food into a low-cost source of insect protein for aquaculture feed.
—Zinnia Lee, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
The only exception to that rule is for aquaculture enterprises.
—Tanya Babbar, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for aquaculture
Cite this Entry
“Aquaculture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aquaculture. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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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