Aquaculture

Overview

Aquaculture, the newest and fastest-growing sector of the agriculture business, is a fancy name for fish farming. If you didn’t know already, much of the fish we eat is not caught in the wild. Instead, they are domesticated -- raised and harvested in controlled environments specifically created for food production. As an aquaculture major, you’ll learn the ins and outs of operating a successful fish farm.

First, you’ll learn the fundamentals of aquatic and marine biology, as well as basic fish nutrition and health. You’ll want your fish farm to replicate wild conditions (while also keeping out predators), so you’ll need to know about wild fish, marine plants, and habitats. Next, you’ll learn how to select, culture, propagate and harvest fish, shellfish, and marine plants. Finally, you’ll take classes in the technical and business aspects necessary to work in this field -- how to design and build fish farms, breeding facilities and culture beds, and finally, how to market your product.