Mariculture 19769 224942702 2008-07-11T03:02:45Z Geronimo20 332930 change template {{aquaculture topics}} '''Mariculture''' is a specialized branch of [[aquaculture]] involving the cultivation of marine organisms for [[food]] and other products in the open [[ocean]], an enclosed section of the ocean, or in tanks, [[ponds]] or [[raceway]]s which are filled with [[seawater]]. An example of the latter is the farming of [[fish|marine fish]], including [[finfish]] and [[shellfish]] e.g.[[prawns]], or [[oysters]] and [[seaweed]] in saltwater ponds. Non-food products produced by mariculture include: [[fish meal]], [[agar|nutrient agar]], [[Jewelery|jewelries]] (e.g. [[Pearl|cultured pearls]]), and [[cosmetics]]. == Sea ranching == The Japanese have developed a process for free ranching marine fish or [[sea ranching]]. The principle is based on [[Conditioning|behavioral conditioning]] and the migratory nature of certain species of marine fish. The fishermen first raise fish hatchlings in a closely knitted net in a harbor. They sound an underwater horn before each feeding. When the young fish are old enough they are freed from the net to mature in the open sea. During spawning season, about 80% of these fish return to their birthplace. The fishermen harvest the fish by sounding the horn and then raising the net. == Kelp farming == Kelp can be farmed in at least two ways. They can be grown around a rope that is anchored to the sea floor the plants do not drift away. Off the coast of [[California]], the top few feet of natural [[kelp]] beds are harvested by boats with mowers. Kelp provides [[alginin]], an edible material used in [[ice cream]] and [[cosmetics]]. The industry also supplies the [[dietry supplement]] industry == Scientific literature == Scientific literature on mariculture can be found in the following journals: [[Applied and Environmental Microbiology]], [[Aquaculture (Journal)]], [[Aquaculture Research]], [[Journal of Marine Science]], [[Marine Resource Economics]], [[Ocean Shoreline Management]], [[Journal of Applied Phycology]], [[Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology]], [[Journal of Phycology]], [[Journal of Shellfish Research]], [[Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries]], [[Reviews in Fisheries Science]]. * [http://www.longline.co.uk/site/publications/farm.pdf J. G. Ferreira, A.J.S. Hawkins, S.B. Bricker, 2007. Management of productivity, environmental effects and profitability of shellfish aquaculture – The Farm Aquaculture Resource Management (FARM) model. Aquaculture, 264, 160-174.] ==See also== * [[Fish farming]] * [[Hydroponics]] * [[Algaculture]] * [[Oyster farming]] == References == * Megakelp.com [http://www.megakelp.com/farming.html] * [http://www.longline.co.uk Longline Environment] == External link == * [http://www.longline.co.uk Web based aquaculture simulations for shellfish in estuaries and coastal systems]: Simulation modelling for mussels, oysters and clams. * [http://www.crc.uri.edu/index.php?themeid=1 Mariculture guidelines and best practices]: A coastal management perspective on mariculture development by the University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center. {{fisheries and fishing}} [[Category:Aquaculture]] [[de:Marikultur]] [[ro:Maricultură]]