Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines aquaculture as "the cultivation of the natural produce of the water (as fish or shellfish)" Aquaculture is the agriculture of the oceans. To provide a more balanced view of the marine ecosystem and the seafood industry this site focuses on both the cultivation of seafood and the harvesting of seafood from the wild. The cultivation aspect of aquaculture is described in the culture section, while the harvest of wild species is explained in the capture section. The terms capture and culture will be used throughout this site to distinguish between these two fishing techniques.

Capture fisheries are the most widely known and recognized form of harvesting aquatic organisms and have been practiced since prehistoric times. Recreational fishing is a form of capture fishing, although for commercial purposes, capture fishing is much more efficient and productive. Culture fisheries involve growing a selected organism, or in some cases several selected organisms in a controlled environment, where the sole purpose of the organisms is to be harvested and then sold commercially. Aquaculture farms are very similar to their land based counterparts in terms of concept and management strategies.

As the world population continues to expand at an almost exponential rate, culture fisheries are becoming an ever more important source of food and resources. The natural stocks of fish that swim in the oceans can only supply a limited amount of food sustainably. Overfishing, pollution, and habitat destruction have severely limited seafood populations world wide and experts believe the current level of fishing may not be sustainable beyond the year 2040. Faced with an ever growing population and an ever shrinking food source, culture fisheries may be one answer to feeding a hungry population.

• For a history of the aquaculture industry, both capture and culture go to the History section.
• If you want to know more about culture fisheries go to Culture.
• For more information on capture fisheries go to Capture.
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