Seafood is any sea animal or seaweed that is served as food, or is suitable for eating by humans, such as fish and shellfish (including mollusks and crustaceans). Edible seaweeds are also seafood, and are widely eaten around the world. See the category of sea vegetables. The harvesting of seafood is known as fishing and the cultivation of seafood is known as aquaculture, mariculture, or in the case of fish, fish farming. Seafood is an important source of protein in many diets around the world, especially in coastal areas.