The Worldwatch Institute has published a report on aquaculture and a short summary of it is available here.
The Worldwatch Institute has published a report on aquaculture and a short summary of it is available here.
It reports that while most fish farms are small in scale and rely on few inputs, the greatest growth in fish farming today is occurring at the other end of the spectrum: large farms raising high-value, predatory fish such as salmon, striped bass, tuna, and shrimp. The report advocates supportive government policies, industry input and a shift in consumer tastes to push farmers toward raising more-efficient species, such as carp, catfish, and shellfish.
It identifies well managed, integrated fish farming of more-efficient species as having potential environmental and food security benefits and a need for producers and conservation groups to develop ecolabels for farmed fish in the way that has been developed for wild caught fish. (It must be remembered, though, that energy use and carbon footprint is not currently a criterion for Marine Stewardship Council certification. A more comprehensive certification system for aquaculture would need to include energy and greenhouse gas emission criteria).
The book can be ordered on the WorldWatch Institute website here.
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