Refining the Trade: 4 Improvements that can be Seen in the Modern Fish Farming Industry
If you are looking for a good news story you might consider recent trends and developments in the fish farming industry to be a good candidate.
When you read about salmon farming and how it is evolving and adapting to change it offers optimism that the industry can respond to increasing demand in a positive and sustainable way.
Here is a look at what improvements are making the outlook for the industry so bright.
Aquaculture is providing a solution
With the global population increasing at such a phenomenal rate it has already become abundantly clear that there is already a significant shortfall in available fish stocks from our oceans and rivers.
Aquaculture has now reached a level where it already accounts for a large percentage of the animal protein consumed in Asia and worldwide annual production is increasing at a rate of more than 8% each year, making it the largest food growth industry.
Although this region of the world is the dominant force in fish farming it is clear that aquaculture is primed to offer a global solution to feeding the inhabitants of our planet in a sustainable way.
Addressing eco concerns
Fish farming methods have not been universally embraced but the industry has attempted to respond to this criticism in a positive way by creating more eco-friendly procedures.
One major development to focus on is the use of effluent from the fish farms to feed plants.
The excrement from fish farms can be repurposed in order to sustain other organisms. This method is referred to as integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) and it is widespread along coastal regions.
It also offers an inland eco-friendly solution as IMTA provides effluent to fertilize crop plants.
Lower energy costs will have an impact
A major portion of aquaculture costs is attributed to the feeding aspects of fish farming as it costs to process, ship, and distribute raw ingredients.
Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) rely heavily on energy and as we move towards cheaper energy solutions such as solar and wind, that will mean RAS will become cheaper and production can increase without such a high energy cost impact.
Climate change
There are understandable concerns relating to the impact climate change will have on the planet’s natural resources and Atlantic salmon and trout stocks could be impacted by a significant increase in sea surface temperature.
If sea temperatures rise above the preferred range for these species to thrive in the wild it could prove significantly detrimental to stock levels.
It is seen as an opportunity by the fish farming industry for the development of new species through the use of aquaculture as a way of counteracting and responding to the potential adversity that climate change has the capacity to inflict.
Aquaculture is seen as a technology that offers a viable solution to an increasing world population that needs feeding and when you consider that fish consumption is rising and putting ever-increasing pressure on natural stocks it is clear that improvements in the fish farming industry will offer a way forward.
