The Chesapeake Bay, historically one of the nation's most productive bodies of water, is an all too familiar example where commercial harvests are in decline. While federal and state programs across the country are working to restore stocks in coastal waters, commercial production may still not be able to meet the increasing consumer demand. The most plausible explanation is from farming the water. In addition to the demand for seafood, there is a growing interest in sportfishing. Some states have had to close fisheries completely.
More people are interested in fishing than nature can support.
The lakes or rivers where fish are stocked either do not have the individual species, or the systems cannot support adequate reproduction to meet the demand of sportfishermen. Through aquaculture, the angler could be provided with a recreational outlet that may not have been available otherwise. Aquaculture efforts can also be used to save or restore an endangered or threatened species. These are special situations where, for various reasons, fish cannot reproduce in sufficient numbers, or the progeny do not survive well enough to maintain themselves as a population. Results indicate that conservation efforts are having a positive impact.