and Food Security

Can aquaculture be sustainable?

Half the fish consumed in the world today come from fish farms The demand for long-chain omega-3 fatty acids has increased dramatically (commonly found in fish) Omega-3 fatty acid is known to reduce cardiovascular diseases Salmon is a very good source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acid Most fish farms in BC farm salmon Most salmon farmed in BC are Atlantic salmon

The fish farming industry employs over people In 2005 aquaculture products were worth over 715 million dollars Salmon generated over 543 million dollars 85% of Canadian aquaculture products are exported 95% of those exports end up in the US Canada has the best potential to be the word leader in aquaculture

Increase the availability of food Reduce the searching, gathering and transporting of food Increase the stability and predictability of food availability Increase the supply and quality of food

Improper aquaculture techniques have negative effects on the environment Fish have been known to escape from their net pens into the wild 49% escape because of the weather (storms damage or tear holes into the nets or cages) 32% because of accidents (mechanical or human failure) 16% because of vandalism (hippies? PETA?) 5% because of predators (seals and other animals tear into the net pens) The escapees then mate with the wild fishes which messes up the spawning instincts of the offspring The waste from the fish are directly deposited into the water The waste travels to the ocean floor where it builds up and smothers life forms living there In the waste there are diseases and parasites that infect the wild fishes Sea-lice is a parasite that kills salmon and it is killing more salmon than it has before

Fish cultivated in farms are fed pellets which is considered unnatural Wild fish are used in the pellets to feed the farmed fish Some people say that wild fish populations are depleting to feed farmed fish Disease and parasites can spread easily because the fish live in such close quarters The fish are given antibiotics and drugs to keep them healthy

If aquaculture farmers use closed containment systems they will be able to prevent almost all of the aforementioned cons Closed containment systems are barriers that filter out the waste from the net pens and recycle the clean water back into the ocean

Commercial fishing and wild stocks are declining and fish farming is becoming a better alternative to get fish The farms are regulated by the government and the fish are inspected so that they are safe to eat The nets and cages are tested to see if they meet government standards and they are required to be replaced often, to prevent the fish from escaping Fish farms can be used for recreational fishing Fresh aquaculture products can be produced in places where they aren’t easily accessible such as desserts The extra water can be used to grow crops and feed people and livestock The crops and livestock can be used to produce extra income Aquaculture the cost to start aquaculture farms cost very little and can produce a lot of income