There are two types of trout that are farmed in South Africa, namely Brown trout (Salmo trutta) and Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Instead of focusing solely on trout, this article will be aimed at explaining the general terminology in aquaculture that may not be common knowledge.

The aquaculture terminology will be broken up into two parts. In part one we discuss the general farming and aquaculture terms, and in part two we explain more specified industry terms.

The difference between aquaculture, aquafarming and aquaponics

Aquaculture: Unlike commercial fishing, aquaculture makes use of systems to rear and grow out aquatic species like fish, molluscs and crustaceans rather than catching wild fish.
Aquafarming: Another name for aquaculture, it is a method of farming aquatic species in controlled environments.
Aquaponics: A combination of aquaculture and hydroponics in which fish and soil-less plants are grown together in the same environment.

Farming practices

Pisciculture: A practice where finned fish are reared in a body of water.
Mariculture: A practice where marine organisms are reared in a body of salt- or brackish water.
Polyculture: A practice where multiple different aquatic organisms are reared in the same body of water. This practice is effective at utilising a wider range of ecological niches in the ecosystem.

Farming systems

Intensive aquaculture: Aquaculture that is maintained through human action, through manipulation of water quality, and environment.
Extensive aquaculture: Aquaculture that is maintained without human interference, in natural environments such as coastal pools or natural ponds.

Physiological terms

Fry: A fish from the time that it hatches until it is about three months old. In some fish species this stage will last until it is just under a year old.
Fingerling: A juvenile fish from the time that is 1 inch in length, until about three or four months of age, at which time they should be roughly the length of a finger.
Yearling: A stage following the fingerling stage, when the fish is between one and two years of age.

Fish types

Game fish: Fish that are reared to replenish sport fish stock.
Ornamental fish: Fish such as koi that are kept for the aesthetic appeal rather than reared for sport or eating.
Anadromous fish: Migratory fish that breed in freshwater, but inhabit saltwater areas.
Catadromous fish: Migratory fish that breed in saltwater, but inhabit freshwater areas.
Amphidromous fish: Migratory fish that can live and breed in both freshwater and saltwater.
Potamodromous fish: Migratory fish that live and breed in freshwater.
Oceanodromous fish: Migratory fish that live and breed in saltwater.