![]() ![]() For example, one of the most harmful aquaculture systems is open net-cage farming, which often takes place on the coasts of large bodies of water. The emissions of marine animal waste from aquaculture facilities into the ecosystem will not only affect other fish, but will also result in nutrient pollution. Closed off inland systems contribute to eutrophication as well, as they tend to dump effluent directly into natural waterways (Talbot & Hole, 1994).Īquaculture pollution through eutrophication is an unfortunate side effect of a rapidly growing and under-regulated industry. In open water aquaculture systems, the excess fish feed introduces extra nitrogen and phosphorous directly into the water (Talbot & Hole 1994). Aquaculture causes eutrophication in multiple ways. Eutrophication refers to the excess enrichment in a given ecosystem of nitrogen and phosphorous. Eutrophication is a common issue that comes along with aquaculture. Nobody wants to replace one negative practice, such as overfishing, with a solution that could potentially cause a different set of problems. The aquaculture industry is still developing, and needed to learn over 30 years what land farmers had 6,000 years to perfect (WWF, n.d.).Īquaculture is necessary to maintain demand and to keep overfishing under control, however many current aquaculture operations negatively impact the environment. Considering that 50% of the seafood consumed globally is farmed, and that that percentage will continue to rise, it becomes clear that the problems with aquaculture must be solved (NOAA, n.d.). This rapid growth has led to hasty regulations that may not be properly controlling the amount of waste and pollution it produces. Closed aquaculture systems are systems that are land-based and utilize filtration and recirculation systems, thus removing the pollution risk of effluent being dumped into natural waterways (Goodfishbadfish, n.d.). Open aquaculture systems often involve a large cage in the ocean where fish are reared, fed, then caught for processing. One of the main distinctions in aquaculture is closed versus open systems. Aquaculture can look very different from operation to operation. It is also possible to select for genetic diversity in an aquaculture facility, which can be beneficial to the natural environment as well.Īquaculture refers to the cultivation of fish for human consumption, or more simply, the farming of fish (NOAA n.d.). Aquaculture is a clear solution to overfishing, as it lets us grow the exact fish we want and need for consumption, and we can do so without interrupting the natural environment. It is estimated that over 70% of the world’s fish species are either endangered or extinct (Nuttall, n.d.). Genetic diversity is important for the long-term evolution and can serve as a basis for adaption to environmental change (Bell & Okamura, 2005). This may not sound like much, but low genetic diversity can lead to extinction of marine life, which causes an imbalance in the ecosystem. Overfishing not only limits the world’s supply of fish for consumption, but it also creates low genetic diversity in the oceans. Aquaculture is now necessary to meet the demands for seafood in the United States (Cousteau, 2014). The pressure must be taken off the ocean and freshwater fish that we love to eat, and a viable solution to this problem is aquaculture. Scientists predict that if overfishing continues at its current rate, wild populations will be down 90% by the year 2050 (One green planet, n.d.). While this is good for our personal health, it is causing extreme impacts on ocean fish populations. Recently, seafood consumption has gone up steadily as fish are viewed as a healthy protein source (NOAA, n.d.). comes from China and overseas (Fish Watch, n.d.). Authors: Brianna Healey, Pre-Veterinary Sciences Will Dell’Erba, Forestry Kurt Leavitt, Building and Construction TechnologyĪmericans consume 4.8 billion pounds of seafood annually, and 90% of the fish consumed in the U.S.
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