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.