The first step to starting an aquaculture venture is to gather all available information on the species of your interest. This information should include aspects related to the species’ biology, cultivation systems, and most importantly, the market.
It is challenging for a single publication to encompass all available and up-to-date information on a specific aquaculture species or group of species. In this regard, having a document that summarizes all this information is greatly helpful in guiding your future tasks.
Collection of Technical Fact Sheets
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has a collection of Technical Fact Sheets on cultured aquatic species available to all aquaculturists worldwide.
The collection of Technical Fact Sheets is aimed at those who wish to understand the steps to follow in starting the cultivation of aquatic species (fish, mollusks, algae, frogs, etc.) and to learn about current cultivation techniques being applied globally.
Each Technical Fact Sheet provides an overview of various aspects of cultivation, such as production systems, diseases and control measures, production statistics, and market and trade information for 76 aquaculture species.
The document also contains bibliographic references as well as related links.
Technical Fact Sheet
Each fact sheet includes information on the scientific name and common name in English, French, and Spanish, and describes the main biological characteristics regarding the species’ morphology and physiology.
Furthermore, the document presents information on the main producing countries, habitat, production cycle, production systems, diseases and control measures.
Moreover, you can also find information on production statistics based on FAO-Fishstat data, market and trade, status and trends (state of the art, perspectives, recommendations).
Finally, the Technical Fact Sheet also describes the main negative impacts of aquaculture practices on the environment and the potential adverse effects on other species.
Aquaculture Species
The FAO’s collection of fact sheets includes species such as “Bullfrog,” “American Oyster,” “Paiche,” “Tuna,” “Cod,” “Salmon,” “Barramundi,” “Carp,” “Mussels,” “Brine Shrimp,” “Channel Catfish,” “Cobia,” “Coho Salmon,” “Sea Bass,” “Giant Malaysian Prawn,” “Tiger Shrimp,” “Dorado,” “Mullet,” “Macroalgae,” “Amberjack,” “Tilapia,” “Eel,” “White Shrimp,” “Zander,” among others.
Reference
© FAO 2023. Cultured Aquatic Species Information Programme (CASIP). Fisheries and Aquaculture Division [online]. Rome. [Accessed Monday, May 15th 2023].
