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          Farms and Agricultural Production Systems
          Aquaculture and AquaponicsAquaculture and Aquaponics

  **Aquaculture** is the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of fish, shellfish, algae, and other water organisms under controlled conditions for at least part of their lifecycle. Aquaculture is a sustainable farming practice that supports the U.S. agricultural economy by providing jobs and business opportunities.
**Aquaponics** is the practice of combining aquaculture and hydroponics (growing plants without soil) into one system.

  Aquaponics
    
    Resources about Aquaponics
    

      
An Overview of Aquaponic Systems: Aquaculture Components (PDF, 18 Pages)
              The "go-to" resource by D. Allen Pattillo at the North Central Regional Aquaculture Center. Contains information, diagrams, and links to additional resources.


      Purdue Aquaponics: Cut Water Usage  [youtube.com]
              Program provides an introduction to and recommended practices for starting an aquaponics operation.   Discusses the relationship between aquaponics, aquaculture and hydroponics.


      Aquaponics [agmrc.org]
              An overview of aquaponics, production issues and marketing considerations.  Includes links to additional information.


      Everything You Need to Know about Aquaponics [youtube.com]
              A  series of videos recorded by D. Allen Pattillo at Iowa State University that showcase and detail aquaponics topics.
      
              Access to Research Articles
  

      Sustainability of urban aquaponics farms: An emergy point of view.
      Comparison of nutrient costs from fish feeds and inorganic fertilizers for aqua...
      The Growth of Leaf Lettuce and Bacterial Communities in a Closed Aquaponics Sys...
      From water to table: A multidisciplinary approach comparing fish from aquaponic...
      Comparison of total nutrient recovery in aquaponics and conventional aquacultur...
      Comparative life cycle assessment of aquaponics and hydroponics in the Midweste...
      A new and improved aquaponics system model for food production patterns for urb...
      Engineering Design of Aquaponics Systems.See all 397 results


  Aquaculture
    
    Aquaculture is federally defined in the National Aquaculture Act of 1980 as the “propagation and rearing of aquatic species in controlled or selected environments, including but not limited to, ocean ranching (except private ocean ranching of Pacific for profit in those States where such ranching is prohibited by law).” 16 U.S.C.A. § 2802 (1)

  Resources about Aquaculture
    

      
Aquaculture [agmrc.org]


      Aquaculture [ncat.org]


      Census of Aquaculture [nass.usda.gov]


      Fisheries and Aquaculture [fao.org]


      Laws and Regulations [nationalaglawcenter.org]


      Regional Aquaculture Centers (RACs) [msstate.edu]
      
              Access to Research Articles
  

      Biological filters in aquaculture: Trends and research directions for freshwate...
      Antibiotic-resistant Enterobacteriaceae from diseased freshwater goldfish.
      Modelling the Distribution of the Red Macroalgae Asparagopsis to Support Sustai...
      Limited water exchange production systems for freshwater ornamental fish.
      Applied Nutrition in Freshwater Prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, Culture.
      The features of an emerging whispovirus isolate from freshwater crayfish.See all 3,885 results

  Research and Selected Resources
        
                  External links relevant to aquaculture, organized by federal agency
    
    U.S. Department of AgricultureUSDA AquacultureSeventeen USDA Agencies fall under eight Mission Areas to support aquaculture through their program leadership. USDA primarily supports aquaculture through the programs administered in the Mission Areas and Agencies outlined on this site, including the following:
Animal Plant Health Inspection Service. Aquaculture Information.
National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Aquaculture.
National Agricultural Statistics Service. Census of Aquaculture.U.S. Department of CommerceNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Sea Grant. Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture [noaa.gov]
NOAA Aquaculture [noaa.gov]U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesAgriculture, Forestry and Fishing Program. [cdc.gov]
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducts research and proposes practices to reduce occupational diseases, injuries and fatalities among workers in the aquaculture industry.
      
              U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyAquaculture: NPDES. [epa.gov]
Provides information on aquaculture production; best management practices; and regulatory requirements and compliance. EPA stresses aquaculture-related environmental requirements.U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationAquaculture. [fda.gov]
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. [fda.gov]
	The Center focuses on safe and effective drugs used in the aquaculture industry.
Seafood Guidance Documents and Regulatory Information [fda.gov]
Seafood HACCP [fda.gov].


  Aquaculture Funding Opportunitiescoins
    
    Aquaculture farmers and researchers may be eligible for grant or financial assistance programs.

    Find Funding

  Special Collections at NAL
        
                  Selections from the Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection
    
    Everglades Aquatic Nurseries, Inc.


      Howells Water Garden


      Lakeview Aquatic Farms
      
              Loveland Goldfish Farm


      Water Garden


      William Trickle Inc.


  Important Links
    
    ARS National Program no. 106 Aquaculture
      Hydroponics
      USDA AquaculturePage Content Curated By
    

      Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC)
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