Aquaculture sector facing tremendous challenges which need solution to become sustainable

The globe has a difficult food problem in trying to feed a growing population while lessening the negative environmental effects of production and distribution methods. The task of feeding a world population that is expanding at a rapid rate falls on the fisheries industry, and as demand for seafood rises globally, sustainable aquaculture production must rise as well. Currently the food business with the fastest rate of growth in the world, aquaculture supplies more than half of the world's seafood.

Challenges of Aquaculture Industry:

We need to practice aquaculture in a sustainable manner because it contributes significantly to our food supply. 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. Thus, sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the aquaculture industry. Nonetheless, the aquaculture sector faces numerous difficulties, the most significant of which is the growing prevalence of illness. Here is a summary of some of the current issues that the aquaculture sector in India and throughout the world is facing:

• Instead of contributing to environmental damage reduction, farmers are under pressure to profit from their business. 
• Aquaculture's inevitable intensification is ultimately resulting in significant losses, catastrophic disease outbreaks, and environmental damage.
•  When purchasing raw materials and selling fish or shellfish, the market price and manufacturing costs change.
• Unplanned setup and the use of farming methods.
• Lack of appropriate implementation, infrastructure, and disease resistance capability prevents the adoption of new farming technology or diseases.
• Farmers and other stakeholders do not cooperate or communicate with one another.
• The inability to adapt in the face of global difficulties posed by social and economic pressures on aquatic ecosystems and natural resources, such as population growth, water shortage, environmental degradation, food scarcity, and world hunger.

Strategy to Make Aquaculture Sustainable:

Better management with an eye toward the long-term sustainability of production, commercial viability, and environmental effect can lead to a good culture. It is necessary to concentrate on developing new production methods and management instruments, as well as adding medical supplies for nutrition and aqua health. The following lists many methods for making aquaculture sustainable:

•  Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) on land are an excellent means of mitigating or completely eliminating the environmental effects of fish farming.
• With less of an adverse effect on the environment, offshore marine aquaculture methods facilitate the more effective dilution of waste produced, allowing fish waste to disperse into the marine food web more quickly.
• The use of filter feeder species in multi-trophic aquaculture is an excellent and economical method of reducing nutrient accumulation. As a result, this technology gives the farm more financial value while lowering trash accumulation and assisting in the improvement of water quality.
• To maintain the ponds' health and biosecurity and stop the potential of bringing new pathogenic viruses and other diseases into the hatchery and farms, as well as to stop the pathogens from being transferred to the larvae, specific pathogen-free (SPF) brood stock must be used.
• Implementing appropriate pond preparation techniques, such as providing sufficient time between cultures to reduce the chance of illness contaminating the incoming crop.
• For pond preparation and culture systems, high-quality seed, fertilizer, feed, and feed supplements must be used.
• Adopting contemporary farming technologies necessitates putting more effort into personnel training and skill development.
• Aquaculture could undergo a revolution when affordable, eco-friendly, and carbon-neutral renewable energy technologies are introduced. Water pumps driven by wind and water heating systems fueled by solar power lower long-term operational costs and have a smaller environmental impact.
• Reducing the strain on capture fisheries can be achieved through switching from reliance on fishmeal or animal-based feed ingredients to plant-based feed ingredients or turning trash into feed.
• Government policies can raise awareness and provide encouragement, as well as offer rewards for sustainable aquaculture and the practice of organic aquaculture promotion.