It has to be concerning that so many reports are concluding that our oceans are becoming depleted of natural resources like fish and the issue of sustainability looms large as a major topic of conversation for everyone on the planet.
Something has to be done to try and redress the balance and this is why environmentalists and entrepreneurs are teaming together to try and protect the future of our fish stocks through the development of aquaculture.
Here is an overview of what aquaculture is all about and why it might represent the future of the seafood industry, including a look at some of the figures that appear to confirm we have a potential future crisis on our hands, plus details of how aquaculture is evolving as an industry.
An increasing appetite for fish
It is good news for our health that we are are putting more fish on our plate but the facts and figures are telling an alarming story that world stocks of certain species simply can’t keep pace with our appetite.
A United Nations report published in 2016 concluded that just over 30% of the world’s stocks have become overfished and if that was not bad enough, we are fast approaching a point where 60% of stocks have become fully fished.
This has created a scenario where half of the top ten species of fish that U.S consumers like to put on their plate are now partially farmed to varying degrees.
Responsible fish farming in order to maintain a level of sustainability that keeps up with demand is behind the Global Salmon Initiative and it is also what is driving the aquaculture industry forward at such a pace.
The rise of aquaculture
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have been reporting substantial growth in aquaculture levels for a number of years and that is a good thing when you consider the reality that we are trying to take more from the ocean than it can naturally replenish in a reasonable period of time.
Aquaculture is the term used to describe the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of fish and shellfish in a variety of different water environments.
Marine aquaculture involves culturing species that live in the ocean like shrimp, mussels, and oysters, amongst others. Freshwater aquaculture is focused on culturing species that are native to rivers, lakes, and streams, such as catfish and trout, for example.
The rise in demand for fish and the growth of aquaculture is attracting entrepreneurs who are searching for new ways to improve the yield in an eco-friendly and responsible way and this is leading to innovative discoveries that are helping to change the industry in a largely positive way.
Reducing dependency on marine proteins
Aquaculture technology is not without its challenges and there is a constant battle to improve on current sustainable practices, including efforts to reduce a reliance on marine proteins in order to avoid taking more than necessary from the ocean.
The point about aquaculture is that farms are spread around the world and they are using different systems and technologies to achieve the best results, while still trying to stick to the same ethos of achieving acceptable sustainable practices.
One example of these innovative practices is where some farms are now using processing waste to feed the fish which would otherwise be used as fertilizer or simply be consigned to end up as garbage.
The aim for some of these producers is to actively reduce reliance on marine proteins by using soy and other grains as a viable replacement, moving towards a scenario that is focused on microbial, insect, and algae-based feeding systems.
Improvements in pen technology
Another key area that is benefitting from research and investment funding is improvements in pen technology.
One of the major challenges facing farmers who are cultivating species in an ocean environment is the rate of escapes and attacks from predators such as sharks.
It is clearly important to try to prevent predators chewing their way through the pens where fish are being cultivated and pen technology has now evolved to a point where stock losses and damage to pens is kept to a minimum.
It is clear that aquaculture is a necessary industry when you look at the levels of demand for seafood and fish in general, which is why the industry is growing up so quickly and benefitting from substantial ongoing investment to ensure that we all get the food we want in the future.
Robert Storey is an avid investor who is always looking for new business opportunities. He also enjoys sharing his insights on various business and investment websites.