What is the Difference Between Aquaculture and Pisciculture?

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The main difference between aquaculture and pisciculture lies in the range of aquatic organisms they involve. Here are the key distinctions between the two:

  • Aquaculture: This is the process of breeding, rearing, and harvesting aquatic flora and fauna with commercial value in saltwater or freshwater environments. Aquaculture encompasses a wide range of aquatic organisms, including fish, crustaceans, mollusks, algae, and other aquatic plants. It is practiced in both fresh and saltwater, and it can be done in ponds, tanks, reservoirs, or even paddy fields.
  • Pisciculture: This is the culturing of fish (fish farming) to obtain fish and fish products as food. Pisciculture primarily focuses on the production of fish-based commercial items, such as salmon, catfish, carp, and tilapia. It involves farming fish in controlled environments, like big tanks or ponds.

In summary, aquaculture deals with the cultivation of various aquatic organisms, including fish, while pisciculture is specifically focused on the farming of fish for food production. Both practices involve the commercial breeding of aquatic organisms for human use and can be carried out in both saltwater and freshwater environments.

Comparative Table: Aquaculture vs Pisciculture

The main difference between aquaculture and pisciculture is that aquaculture involves the cultivation of both aquatic flora and fauna, while pisciculture is primarily focused on the production of fish-based commercial items. Here is a table summarizing the differences between the two:

Feature Aquaculture Pisciculture
Definition Cultivation of valuable flora and fauna, such as crustaceans, mollusks, algae, spirulina, and other aquatic plants. Cultivation of fish, such as salmon, catfish, carp, and tilapia.
Purpose Produces commercially valuable products that are food sources. Helps in reducing over-exploitation of wild fisheries.
Environments Can be done in both fresh and saltwater, as well as in ponds, reservoirs, or tanks. Generally entails pond, reservoir, or tank farming.
Additional Benefits Aids in the restoration of endangered species and habitats, and prevents nonnative species from escaping. Helps to reduce the chance of disease outbreaks in aquatic environments.

Both aquaculture and pisciculture are culture techniques related to both saltwater and freshwater, and they produce commercially valuable products that serve as food sources.