Goodfish
'Supporting sustainable inshore day fisheries to help conserve the coastal environment, plus more!'
Farmed Fish
Seafish farming - an introduction
Aquaculture now accounts for more than half of global seafood consumption and while more fish are being farmed, which could take pressure off some wild stocks, environmentalists and fisheries experts are concerned that current fish-farming methods will not be sustainable for many species because it requires more smaller fish to be caught for feed. This can then affect stocks of larger wild fish higher on the food chain.
More than a quarter of all fish caught in 2008 were used for nonfood products, mainly fish meal and fish oil for farmed animals, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
Issues and opportunities with sea fish farming
In theory, more fish being farmed could take pressure off wild stocks, but environmentalists and fisheries experts are concerned that expanding current fish-farming methods will not be sustainable because this requires more smaller fish to be caught for feed.
Unlike freshwater fish farming, such as carp or tilapia, a key issue with farmed sea fish is that most eat other fish. This means feeding many more smaller fish to produce the bigger fish. This causes problems in that it can affect stocks of larger wild fish higher on the food chain by removing their food source. It also takes quite a few kilogrammes of small fish to make one kilogramme of big fish.
If only we could find a vegetarian alternative? A recent article describes some latest ideas for a vegetarian alternative - Can Farmed Fish Flourish on a Veggie Diet?
Another report talks through a mix of vegetarian with fish oil - Researchers put farmed fish on vegetarian diet
Greenpeace say that in most cases of marine fish farming (taken from their web site)
i) Wild-caught fish are used for fish meal and oil to feed farmed stocks which increases the pressure on the marine environment rather than reducing it. The fish meal and oils used in fish farming come from fish such as sand eels. Their removal in massive quantities by industrial fishing vessels has a devastating effect on the marine ecosystem.
ii) Some breeding stocks are taken from wild populations.
iii) Diseases spreads from farmed fish to wild populations making wild populations further depleting their numbers.
iv) Water and environments surrounding fish farms are polluted by fish waste, uneaten food and the chemicals, antibiotics and vaccines used to control disease.
Further information
Marine Stewardship Council - Goodfish Guide
Eco Labels for farmed fish
A research project at the University of Victoria found that "most eco-labeled seafood offers little environmental benefit". The good news is that the Organic Soil Association marque did well and so might be ther best way to identify the products that have the best posttive environmental impact. Find out more about this study at the following links
There is no world wide certification / standard for sea fish farming and this needs to be addressed. WWF are seeking to work on this issue and this can be seen on their web site.
If your business uses locally caught fish, from small boats that do not beam, pair or otter trawl, then the 'Coast Friendly' Initiative may be for you! Click here to find out about the trial that you could be part of.
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