• Home
  • Energy
  • Sustainability
  • Climate Change
    • Eco Editorial
  • Environment
    • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Pollution
      • Global Warming
      • Population Explosion
      • Renewable Energy
      • Species Extinction
      • Sustainable Management of Resources
    • Animals
    • Pollution
    • Environmental Policy
  • Green Technology
    • Green Tips
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Energy
  • Sustainability
  • Climate Change
    • Eco Editorial
  • Environment
    • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Pollution
      • Global Warming
      • Population Explosion
      • Renewable Energy
      • Species Extinction
      • Sustainable Management of Resources
    • Animals
    • Pollution
    • Environmental Policy
  • Green Technology
    • Green Tips
  • Contact Us
Feeding the World: The Promising Future of Sustainable Aquaculture
December 22, 2016

fisherman

Declining fish stocks and a growing world population are not a good combination, which is why sustainable aquaculture has such a promising future.

It is now the case that farmed salmon finds its way onto a growing number of dinner plates everyday and this is just one example of how sustainable fish farming is fulfilling several requirements, providing a valuable and sustainable resource and also helping to protect fish stocks in general.

Harvesting the ocean in a responsible way

Our relationship and interaction with the world’s oceans goes way back of course, and many generations before ours have harvested the seas for food, but it has become abundantly clear in recent times, that this valuable source of nutrients, is far from an unlimited resource.

Stocks of certain species have declined in alarming numbers and it has been widely estimated that we have now reached the maximum capacity level, where we simply can’t expect to catch any greater volume of fish and expect their population to remain at a sustainable level.

When fish are being caught at a faster rate than they can reproduce, it is inevitable that there will come a point where our plates will be empty, which is why aquaculture has become so important.

Various aquaculture methods

Aquaculture, otherwise commonly known as fish farming, already now accounts for more than 50% of the world market for fish products, which gives you a clear indication of the importance and relevance of this process.

There are in fact various aquaculture methods, and some of them are not without certain environmental risks attached themselves, although these are being addressed with advancements in technology.

The most prominent form of fish farming at the present time is mariculture, which involves the cultivation of marine organisms in the ocean via a designated enclosed section of the ocean.

Mariculture includes the use of open-net pens and cages, that allow the farmed fish to maintain direct contact with their natural environment. The drawback to this method, is that there is the greater prospect of infectious diseases spreading beyond the farmed fish, if some fish subsequently escape and then spread their infection to the native populations of fish outside of this zone.

This threat is one of the fundamental reasons why scientists have been developing closed-contained systems, which ensure separation from native species and restrict the spread of disease and parasites.

Land-based alternative

Aquaculture has now evolved to provide a viable land-based alternative to mariculture, with obvious benefits including the fact that there is a continuous supply of clean water and a greater level of control over disease, as well as contaminants and toxins.

Another positive factor relating to land-based fish farming is the fact that it allows the fish an opportunity to grow more efficiently, mainly because they are not expending so much of their energy fighting the currents, which is what they would be doing in a mariculture scenario.

Reproduction cycles

A major factor when it comes to sustainability is getting the fish to be able to reproduce in sufficient numbers and at an acceptable frequency rate.

Technology and scientific knowledge has played a big part in unlocking the key to achieving this with farmed fish.

Getting the fish to reproduce with efficiency and in predictable cycles has been a challenge, but by simulating the necessary environmental cues that would encourage them to reproduce in the wild, such as alternating the water temperature, as well as lighting and salinity levels, scientists have been able to achieve predictable reproductive cycles.

They have also managed to create a fish pellet that is able to mimic the hormone needed to induce natural reproduction.

Cracking the reproduction cycle has been the key to the growth in aquaculture, and when you get fish that are clean, grow faster than they do in the wild and taste equally as good as they would if they had come from the ocean, you have what is close to a system that is self-sufficient.

Whether you have reservations regarding fish farming or not, the bare facts are that the oceans are no longer in a position to provide us with the level of food that we need to feed the world’s population.

We have probably reached a point where farming fish in this way needs to be viewed in much the same way as farming the land, certainly if we are going to achieve the aim of building and maintaining a sustainable future for fish stocks and species in general.

Eva Kelly is an environmental studies student who takes an interest in sustainability and all aspects of our planet. She writes articles on the topics she finds interesting, her work being published on green/eco and environmental related blogs.

Share

Sustainability

John Tarantino
My name is John Tarantino … and no, I am not related to Quinton Tarantino the movie director. I love writing about the environment, traveling, and capturing the world with my Lens as an amateur photographer.

Leave a reply


Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • Recent Posts

    • Sustainable Fishing Methods to Fish More Responsibly
    • 5 Ways to Clean and Decontaminate Soil
    • 4 Ways Prefab Homes Give Rise To A Sustainable Future
    • 4 Things to Know Before Buying an Electric Car
    • How to Build an Eco-Friendly Home
  • Categories

    • Animals
    • Climate Change
    • Eco Editorial
    • Energy
    • Environment
    • Environmental Policy
    • Green Food
    • Green Technology
    • Green Tips
    • Green Travel
    • Infographics
    • Other Stories
    • Pollution
    • Recycle
    • Sustainability
    • Toxics
    • Uncategorized
  • Archives

    • February 2023
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • September 2022
    • August 2022
    • July 2022
    • June 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • July 2021
    • June 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2011



Home | About | Advertise With Us | Bike The Netherlands | Current Environmental Issues | Eco Editorial | Contact