You Can Be Anything › All careers › Agriculture, Food & Environment
Aquaculturist
Farms fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants — the fastest-growing food production sector in the world.
Did you know?
In 2022, for the first time, fish farms produced more aquatic animals than wild fishing, 51% of the total, according to the UN's FAO.
How subjects help
- Biology: Raise fish from eggs to adults and spot disease early in a crowded pond or tank.
- Chemistry: Test water for oxygen, ammonia and salt every day to keep fish alive and growing.
- Environmental Science: Stop waste and escaped fish from the farm harming wild fish and the seabed.
- Business Studies: Work out feed costs and harvest times so the farm sells its fish at a fair profit.
A famous name
Kokichi Mikimoto: Grew his first cultured pearls in farmed oysters in 1893 and started the cultured pearl industry.
Try it yourself: How many fish can be caught?
- Draw a simple graph of the numbers. What is happening to the fish?
- Give two possible reasons.
- What rule would you suggest for next year, and how would you check if it worked?
- If you kept fish in a pond, what would they need every day to stay healthy?
Fisheries scientists and fish farmers track fish numbers and water conditions, so there are healthy fish for the future.
Also try: Pick the best growing conditions.
Known for it in
Norway, China, Chile, Japan, Scotland/UK