Alternatives in Aquacultural Development: Consideration of Extensive Versus Intensive Methods

For animal species having apparent potential for economical culture, the alternatives of developing extensive or intensive cultural practices are compared. Extensive culture is defined as raising fish or shellfish in natural bodies of water with few modifications of the environment, while intensive culture is defined as rearing animals in man-made ponds, raceways, or tanks where environmental control is exercised. A discussion of legal, biological, economic, environmental, and social implications of each approach is presented. It is concluded that, for most carnivorous and omnivorous species of interest to aquaculturists, expenditures for the development of extensive culture methods are not justified.