FAO Terminology Portal

Aquaculture

The glossary of aquaculture is a multidisciplinary and multilingual glossary containing more than 2600 terms, definitions, related terms, synonyms and images.

This glossary has been prepared by the Aquaculture Branch of the former FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, under the coordination of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Officer Valerio Crespi, and with the collaboration of the Language Branch. Its contents are primarily based on existing textbooks and glossaries, in particular those prepared within the various Branches of the former FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department. Terms pertaining to specific aquaculture subject areas have been validated by internal and external FAO experts.

The primary objectives of this glossary are:

  • to serve as a reference to fish farmers, consultants, administrators, policy makers, developers, engineers, agriculturists, economists, environmentalists and any other actor interested in aquaculture; and
  • to facilitate communication among experts and scientists involved in aquaculture research and development.

The glossary is also published in hardcopy and CD-ROM. Users are invited to send comments and suggestions by e-mail to: [email protected]

The online glossary is presented in the following format: terms, definitions, aquaculture subject areas, synonyms, related terms, images and information sources.
In addition, there are two links with Abbreviations and Acronyms and Measurement Units.

Terms

The glossary terms are presented in alphabetical order. British English has been adopted rather than American English. Any alternative spellings, unusual plural forms (pl.), and/or the generally accepted abbreviations/acronyms are provided as synonyms.


Definitions


The suggested definitions have been selected from available published information, with priority given to published FAO definitions whenever possible. Multiple meanings for the same term are indicated by placing (a), (b), (c), etc. either after the term [e.g. Bank (a), Bank (b)] or within the definition, as in the case of the term "barrage". In so doing, the user is advised when a term has different equivalents in other languages.


Related
terms


Related terms are also indicated in the glossary as well
as antonyms, terms which mean the opposite of the term itself, for example "alkaline" is related to "acid".


Term 2, 3, 4
(Synonyms)


Terms 2, 3, 4, etc. are synonyms of the first term with the same or a similar meaning.


Subject areas


Twenty-one broad aquaculture subject areas have been defined. Each term has been classified in one of these areas.


Sources


The information source(s) from which each definition has been obtained is provided for each term.


Images


Whenever available, clickable images are presented in thumbnail format at the top of the screen.

Abbreviations and acronyms

Abbreviations and acronyms

Ab

Antibody

K

Coefficient of permeability (soil)

ABC

Acid-binding capacity

K

Condition factor (metric units)

AFNOR

French Standards Institute

K

Potassium

ASTM

American Society for Testing Materials

L/C

Letter of credit

BOD

Biochemical oxygen demand

LH

Luteinizing hormone

BSI

British Standards Institute

LH-RH

Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone

BV

Biological value of protein

LH-RHa

Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue

C

Condition factor (anglo-saxon units)

LIS

Land Information Systems

C

Centigrades

LWMOST

Low water mark for ordinary spring tides

C

Carbon

MAP

Modified atmosphere packing

C:N ratio

Carbon/nitrogen ratio (composting)

ME

Metabolizable energy

Ca

Calcium

MSL

Mean sea level

CaO

Quicklime

MSY

Maximum sustainable yield

CAP

Controlled atmosphere packing

MWL

Mean water level

CBA

Cost-benefit analysis

n

Coefficient of roughness (hydraulics)

CBD

Convention on Biological Diversity

N

Nitrogen

CCP

Critical Control Point

n, 2n, 3n

Number of c hromosome sets in cells

CCRF

Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries

NASA

National Aeronautical and Space Administration ( USA )

CIF

Cost, insurance and freight

Nb

Effective breeding efficiency

CI

Chlorinity

NDP

Net domestic product

COD

Chemical oxygen demand

Ne

Effective breeding number

CPI

Consumer Price In dex

NGO

Non-governmental organization

CPR

Common property resource

NNP

Net National Product

CZM

Coastal zone management

NOD

Nitrogenous oxygen demand

DC

Apparent digestibility coefficient

NPU

(Apparent) net protein utilization

DE

Apparent digestible energy

NPV

Net present value

DIN

German Standards Institute

O

Oxygen

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid

OECD

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development

DO

Dissolved oxygen

P

Phosphorus

DSP

Diarrheic shellfish poisoning

P

Parental generation in a breeding programme

E

Hanging ratio (fishing net)

PCR

Polymerase chain reaction

EAA

Essential amino acid

PER

Protein efficiency ratio

EFA

Essential fatty acid

PET

Potential evapotranspiration

EIA

Environmental Impact Assessment

pH

Hydrogen potential

EQS

Environmental quality standards

PL

Postlarva (crustaceans)

F

Coefficient of inbreeding

PO

Purchase order

F1, F2, F3

First, second, generation produced during a breeding programme

PPI

Producer Price Index

FC

Feed conversion

PPP US$

Purchasing Power Parity (in US$)

FCE

Feed conversion efficiency

PRA

Participatory rural appraisal

FCEs

Specific feed conversion efficiency

PSP

Paralytic shellfish poisoning

FCR

Feed conversion ratio

PUFA

Polyunsaturated fatty acid

FER

Feed efficiency ratio

PVC

Polyvinylchloride

FTB

Floating-type breakwater

QTLs

Quantitative traits loci

g

Instantaneous growth rate

RAPD

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA

G

Specific growth rate

RD

Reference diet

GDI

Gender-related Development In dex

RNA

Ribonucleic acid

GDP

Gross Domestic Product

RNAvirus

Ribovirus

GEM

Gender empowerment

RPI

Retail price index

GIS

Geographical information systems

RRA

Rapid rural appraisal

GMO

Genetically Modified Organism

RS

Remote sensing

GNP

Gross national product

S

Salinity

GnRH

Gonadotropin releasing hormone

SBV

Methyl-orange alkalinity

GnRHa

Gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue

SCP

Single-cell proteins

GPS

Global positioning system

SGR

Specific growth rate

GRR

Relative growth rate

SIA

Social Impact Assessment

GSI

Gonado-somatic index

SPS Agreement

Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

GtH

Gonadotropin (hormone)

SRD

Standard reference diet

H

Hydrogen

SWB

Small water body

HACCP

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points

T&V system

Training-and-visit system (extension)

HDI

Human Development In dex

TBT Agreement

Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade

HDPE

High density polyethylene

TDC

True digestion coefficient

HPI-1

Human Poverty In dex for developing countries

TDH

Total dynamic head

HPI-2

Human Poverty In dex for selected OECD countries

TDS

Total dissolved solids

HUFA

Highly unsaturated fatty acids

TOR

Terms of reference

HWMOST

High water mark for ordinary spring tides

USDA

United States Department of Agriculture

IAA

Integrated agriculture-aquaculture

UV

Ultraviolet radiation

ICAM

Integrated Coastal Area Management

VA

Additive genetic variance

ICID

International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage

VD

Dominance genetic variance

ICM

Integrated Coastal Management

VE

Environmental variance

ICZM

Integrated coastal zone management

VG

Genetic variance

IIA

Integrated irrigation-aquaculture

VI

Epistasis genetic variance

IPM

Integrated pest management

VP

Phenotypic variance

IRA

Import risk analysis

WPI

Wholesale Price In dex