College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Module 1
Introduction to Aquaculture
ABEn 165: AQUACULTURE ENGINEERING Prof. MANOLO B. LORETO, Jr
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Lessons:
1.1 Definition of Aquaculture
1.2 Importance of Aquaculture
1.3 Role of Engineers in Aquaculture
ABEn 165: AQUACULTURE ENGINEERING Prof. MANOLO B. LORETO, Jr
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
1.1 Definition of Aquaculture
Aquaculture is the science and technology of producing
aquatic plants and animals. It is often equated to water
farming or underwater agriculture and is the production of
aquatic organisms for human consumption
ABEn 165: AQUACULTURE ENGINEERING Prof. MANOLO B. LORETO, Jr
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
1.1 Definition of Aquaculture
..the art of cultivating the natural produce of water; the
rearing or fattening of fish in an enclosed ponds…
..rearing of aquatic organisms under controlled or semi-
controlled conditions
ABEn 165: AQUACULTURE ENGINEERING Prof. MANOLO B. LORETO, Jr
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
1.1 Definition of Aquaculture
Aquaculture is the controlled process of cultivating aquatic
organisms, especially for human consumption. It’s a similar
concept to agriculture, but with fish instead of plants or
livestock.
ABEn 165: AQUACULTURE ENGINEERING Prof. MANOLO B. LORETO, Jr
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
1.1 Definition of Aquaculture
Aquaculture is also referred to as fish farming. The seafood that
you find at your local grocery store is likely labeled as farmed
fish.
Aquaculture can happen all over the world, and it does: in
coastal ocean waters, freshwater ponds and rivers, and even on
land in tanks.
ABEn 165: AQUACULTURE ENGINEERING Prof. MANOLO B. LORETO, Jr
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
1.1 Definition of Aquaculture
As aquaculture continues to grow at a rapid
pace, understanding the engineering behind
aquatic production facilities is of increasing
importance for all those working in the industry.
ABEn 165: AQUACULTURE ENGINEERING Prof. MANOLO B. LORETO, Jr
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
1.1 Definition of Aquaculture
Aquaculture engineering requires knowledge of
the many general aspects of engineering such as
material technology, building design and construction,
mechanical engineering and environmental engineering
applied in the production of aquatic species
ABEn 165: AQUACULTURE ENGINEERING Prof. MANOLO B. LORETO, Jr
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
1.1 Definition of Aquaculture
It involves in:
a. Construction and design of aquatic production facilities
b. Water transportation and treatment
c. Different production units
d. Feed and feeding systems
e. Instrumentation and monitoring
f. Fish transportation and grading
g. Cleaning and waste handling
ABEn 165: AQUACULTURE ENGINEERING Prof. MANOLO B. LORETO, Jr
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
1.2 Importance of Aquaculture
Reality:
✓ Rapid increase in population
“With this present rate of population
growth, we will be hard-pressed to fill
the need for food and fiber for the
world’s masses”
ABEn 165: AQUACULTURE ENGINEERING Prof. MANOLO B. LORETO, Jr
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
1.2 Importance of Aquaculture
Reality:
➢ Near approach to maximum sustainable yields(MSY)
of the oceans and major freshwater bodies
- overfishing of our ocean and other natural resources
- estimate that the annual catch of edible marine protein
has already passed its peak
- oceans cannot naturally provide the demand for
seafood
ABEn 165: AQUACULTURE ENGINEERING Prof. MANOLO B. LORETO, Jr
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
1.2 Importance of Aquaculture
Solutions:
➢ Increase in production of agronomic crops
➢ Massive investment in aquaculture
ABEn 165: AQUACULTURE ENGINEERING Prof. MANOLO B. LORETO, Jr
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
1.2 Importance of Aquaculture
Facts:
➢ Aquaculture has been responsible for the continuing
impressive growth in the supply of fish for human
consumption (FAO, 2018)
➢ Capture fisheries production has already leveled off and
substantial increases is remote
ABEn 165: AQUACULTURE ENGINEERING Prof. MANOLO B. LORETO, Jr
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
1.2 Importance of Aquaculture
Insight:
……by 2030, fish supplies are estimated to be
dominated by aquaculture and only less than half of the
world’s seafood will originate from capture fisheries
(FAO, 2001a)...
ABEn 165: AQUACULTURE ENGINEERING Prof. MANOLO B. LORETO, Jr
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
1.2 Importance of Aquaculture
Insight:
It must be noted that although Asia has been at the
forefront in aquaculture production, Asians also
consume the bulk (up to two-thirds) of the world’s
seafood supply. Fish protein contributes significantly
to the total animal protein diet of Asians.
ABEn 165: AQUACULTURE ENGINEERING Prof. MANOLO B. LORETO, Jr
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
1.2 Importance of Aquaculture
Insight:
This trend would most probably continue because of
the projected steady increase in Asian population.
Furthermore, malnutrition problems still persists in the
region (FAO, 2001a). Therefore, aquaculture will play
an even more significant role for food security in the
coming years.
ABEn 165: AQUACULTURE ENGINEERING Prof. MANOLO B. LORETO, Jr
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
1.3 Role of Engineers
• Artificial propagation of fish became very complex
over the years
• Understanding physical, chemical and biological
processes
ABEn 165: AQUACULTURE ENGINEERING Prof. MANOLO B. LORETO, Jr
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
1.3 Role of Engineers
It is concerned with the
design and development of
effective aquacultural
systems for marine and
freshwater facilities.
ABEn 165: AQUACULTURE ENGINEERING Prof. MANOLO B. LORETO, Jr
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
1.3 Role of Engineers
Designing an aquaculture
system, tanks, cage and
ponds (includes carrying
out the calculations for
water flow, the material
resistance and the
adequacy to the species)
ABEn 165: AQUACULTURE ENGINEERING Prof. MANOLO B. LORETO, Jr
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
1.3 Role of Engineers
Designing, selection or building
of equipment involved in aquatic
production systems
Maintenance, adaptation and
repairing of specific aquaculture
equipment
ABEn 165: AQUACULTURE ENGINEERING Prof. MANOLO B. LORETO, Jr
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
1.3 Role of Engineers
➢ Designing and setting up equipment for energy supply,
water quality control and security measures
➢ Designing and setting up of specific equipment related
to feed manufacturing, feed maintenance and durability,
food processing and quality control
ABEn 165: AQUACULTURE ENGINEERING Prof. MANOLO B. LORETO, Jr
