Open Water
What is open water?
Key facts
| Definition | Water clear of obstacles to passage or view[1] |
|---|---|
| Specific sense | Water free of ice[1] |
| Open system culture | Fish farming in natural bodies of water[3] |
| Examples of bodies of water | Oceans, bays, estuaries, coastal lagoons, lakes, rivers[3] |
| Related term | Offshore aquaculture, also called open water aquaculture or open ocean aquaculture[1] |
Open water is water that is unobstructed or free of ice, and in aquaculture it refers to fish farming in natural bodies of water such as oceans, bays, estuaries, lakes, and rivers.
Context
Open water is a term for water that is unobstructed or free of ice; in aquatic farming, it is also used for open system culture in natural bodies of water such as oceans, bays, estuaries, lakes, and rivers [1]. Open system culture generally refers to fish farming in natural water bodies [3]. Open ocean aquaculture is broadly defined as rearing marine organisms in exposed areas beyond significant coastal influence [4]. Open system advantages include better water exchange and lower rate of diseases [2]. Offshore aquaculture is also called open water aquaculture or open ocean aquaculture [1].
Documented claims
- Open system culture generally refers to fish farming in natural water bodies. [3]
- Open ocean aquaculture is broadly defined as rearing marine organisms in exposed areas beyond significant coastal influence. [4]
- Open ocean aquaculture employs less control over organisms and the surrounding environment than inshore and land-based aquaculture. [4]
- Open system advantages include better water exchange and lower rate of diseases. [2]
Questions and answers
What is open water in aquaculture?
In aquaculture, open water refers to open system culture in natural bodies of water like oceans, bays, estuaries, lakes, and rivers [3].
What are the advantages of open system culture?
Open system culture offers better water exchange and a lower rate of diseases [2].
What is open ocean aquaculture?
Open ocean aquaculture is broadly defined as rearing marine organisms in exposed areas beyond significant coastal influence [4].
Sources
- What is aquaculture? — oceanservice.noaa.gov (retrieved August 3, 2026)
- Lesson 1 — acsedu.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
- Culture systems categorized: The fundamentals — repository.seafdec.org.ph (retrieved August 3, 2026)
- Open Ocean Aquaculture — nationalaglawcenter.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)