Sustainable aquaculture and its potentialities in fisheries industry
Sustainable aquaculture and its potentialities in fisheries industry
The Food and Agricultural
Organization (FAO) anticipates there will be 10 billion people on Earth by
2050, which will increase demand for protein. In the near future, aquaculture
production is expected to overtake wild-capture fisheries as the main source of
protein for aquatic animals.
What is sustainable aquaculture?
The term
"sustainable aquaculture" refers to aquaculture practices that
prioritize environmental, economic, and social sustainability in order to
enhance capacity building and efficiently utilize land for the aquaculture
industry.
Despite the self-renewal
of living resources, sustainability must come before resource usage. In order
to guarantee the fulfillment and continuous satisfaction of human needs for
both the current and future generations, sustainable development places a strong
emphasis on the management and conservation of natural resources as well as the
direction of institutional and technological advancements.
What is the necessity of sustainable
aquaculture?
The greatest option for
meeting our expanding population's need for animal protein will be sustainable
aquaculture production.
However, as the
aquaculture industry grows, it also faces challenges including water scarcity,
environmental deterioration, a lack of available area for aquaculture, high
input costs, etc. Numerous participants in the sector are proactively tackling
its obstacles. Because aquaculture contributes significantly to our food
supply, it needs to be carried out in a sustainable manner. Aquaculture that is
sustainable may hold the secret to feeding our expanding population. Thus,
sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the aquaculture industry.
Fish is a staple diet and
source of income for millions of people worldwide. Currently, two thirds of the
fish in the ocean are fished responsibly, compared to about one third of world
fish stocks that are fished unsustainably.
The availability and
trade of fish and marine products will alter significantly as a result of
climate change, potentially having substantial geopolitical and economic
ramifications. This will be especially difficult for nations whose populations
rely on fisheries and the ocean for their protein sources. To help those people
meet their protein needs and earn a living, sustainable aquaculture development
might be beneficial.
Ocean-based extractive
industries won't be viable in the long run due to climate change unless more
sustainable techniques are implemented. The fishing and aquaculture industries
are particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change, according to the
2019 Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere. It calls for more funding for
aquaculture and identifies a number of research topics that are necessary to
advance long-term sustainability. In summary, it is impossible to overlook the
necessity of sustainable aquaculture techniques.
What are the potentialities of
sustainable aquaculture?
Of the aquatic animal
products consumed worldwide, 52% are produced by aquaculture; the remaining
37.5% are produced by mariculture, which also provides 97% of the seaweed
harvested worldwide. Aquaculture must expand in order to supply food for the
world's growing population.
Numerous studies were
conducted at aquaculture farms throughout several nations, including the United
States, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and others, to ascertain the sustainability
of aquaculture expansion in these regions. These studies showed that efficient
use of natural resources and other inputs by shrimp farmers was highly valuable
and that it is possible to increase the sustainability of on-shore aquaculture.
To continue offering advice on sustainable aquaculture management techniques,
more research will be required.
One of the sustainable
aquaculture systems is mariculture, which includes the cultivation of mussels,
oysters, pearls, and seaweed. By eliminating significant amounts of nitrogen
and phosphorus from coastal ecosystems, these oyster, mussel, and seaweed have
the ability to lower marine nutrient pollution, stop the growth of
eutrophication (including hypoxia), and support land-based pollution
control. Sustainable mariculture
provides an environmentally benign alternative that is worth the short-term
investment for long-term benefits, as the planet still suffers from the
consequences of nutrient runoff.
If the shrimp industry is
to become sustainable in the future, more research and development work will be
required. This work will include investigating nutrition, improving our
understanding of shrimp defenses against disease, and removing environmental
hazards.
Due to environmental
risks, dietary deficiencies, and disease outbreaks, the shrimp business is
experiencing enormous challenges. The greatest solution is to use sustainable
aquaculture techniques to lessen these problems and enhance the shrimp
industry. To keep the shrimp industry sustainable, further study and
development effort will be needed to better nutrition, enhance our knowledge of
shrimp defenses against disease, and eliminate environmental dangers.
Millions of people
benefit from sustainable aquaculture because it creates jobs, provides
wholesome food, generates revenue, and promotes economic growth.
Compared to the
agriculture producing sector, the modern sustainable strategy of aquaculture
generates less waste and carbon-nitrogen footprints. Therefore, sustainable
aquaculture can be seen as a glimmer of hope for addressing the aforementioned
aquaculture-related issues both now and in the near future.
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