Aquaculture, the sustainable alternative for seafood

carved fish aquaculture banner

small picture of farm raised arctic charr

Section: Aquaculture Fish Farming Articles

Article Title:
Aquaculture industry and issues of sustainable food production .

Sustainability and Aquaculture

During the past three decades, aquaculture has expanded, diversified, intensified and made technological advances. The potential of this industry to enhance local food security, alleviate poverty and improve rural livelihoods has been well recognized.

Aquaculture shares many similarities in concept to many land based agriculture industries such as cattle farming and many of the same management techniques are used in aquaculture. Like more traditional forms of agriculture the goal of commercial aquaculture is to maximize healthy and robust production at a minimal cost to maintain a profit margin.

Aqua Farming is a non resource extractive food sector that is sustainable, renewable and provides safe high quality food products to consumers while creating considerable benefits for the general population. Based on science and technology, it is a market driven sector that has emerged to provide consumers with value, taste and convenience in consumption of seafood and other Aquatic products similar to that expected from other food commodities. Aquaculture supply also plays a supporting role to the wild fishery by making possible restocking and enhancement activities and by filling a complimentary niche in export markets.

Aquaculture requires clean growing waters to maintain a good level of production. Therefore, the industry encourages environmentally friendly practices and has taken many practical steps to protect the local environment. In fact without ensuring protection of the environment, itself, the industry would flounder. Such safeguards include government measures controlling the introduction of new species and the transfer of fish, fish health protection, better site selection, and actions to minimize fish escapes and prevent waste discharges.

Land based fish farms that utilize technology to recycle and reuse water supplies to prevent waste discharge are among the most eco-friendly and sustainable methods of aquaculture. Taking these systems one step further involves the incorporation polyculture, where plant crops are grown with the nutrients produces by the fish crop. This is known as aquaponics a farming technique that is becoming more common in the design of small or large scale farms.

The inherent efficiencies of farming versus fishing for the wild catch (hunting) will see a progressive switch from fishing to fish farming. FAO estimates that the cost of catching fish in the wild, on a global basis, is about 25% higher than the value of the catch.

Next Page Types of Aquaculture Systems

Aquaculture Bookstore | Main Aquaculture Topics List | Aquaculture Today

Home Page: www.northernaquafarms.com