Mariculture: Yield
A rapidly growing human population
has led to in an increased reliance on new and enhanced methods for cultivating
food on land and in the ocean. The term aquaculture refers to the cultivation
in water of animals or plants for human consumption. Depending upon the particular species,
aquaculture may be done in freshwater, brackish water or salt water.
Mariculture refers specifically to cultured food production in marine or brackish waters using floating cages, net enclosures, natural or artificial ponds, or closed circulation water systems. Sustainable mariculture supports human well-being, both now and in the future.
Aquaculture is the fastest-growing animal-food production sector in the world, and 17% of the global yield comes from mariculture. 96% of mariculture yield is produced by only 15 of the world’s 151 coastal nations and their territories.
Mariculture refers specifically to cultured food production in marine or brackish waters using floating cages, net enclosures, natural or artificial ponds, or closed circulation water systems. Sustainable mariculture supports human well-being, both now and in the future.
Aquaculture is the fastest-growing animal-food production sector in the world, and 17% of the global yield comes from mariculture. 96% of mariculture yield is produced by only 15 of the world’s 151 coastal nations and their territories.
Approximately Half of All Farm-Raised Fish and Seafood For Direct Consumption by People Comes from Mariculture
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Which Goals Does This Affect?
How Was It Measured?
Reported
mariculture production comes from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations (FAO) Global Aquaculture Production Quantity dataset. Only
production classified in marine and brackish water environments was included in
the analysis; all freshwater production was excluded. Total species produced
within a country were summed to give a single production value per country for
each year that production took place.
What Are The Impacts?
Ecological Impacts
As
the volume of mariculture production has risen steadily over the past 30 years,
so has the potential risk to surrounding environments. One potential threat
comes from farmed populations that have escaped into the wild.
If genetically modified, farmed, species come into contact with wild stocks, there is the risk of “biological pollution” through interbreeding, which can weaken ecosystem structure and foster the spread of disease. If these non-native species establish viable populations, they may compete or prey upon native species to the point of driving them to extinction.
Certain mariculture methods can damage or destroy coastal habitats. Mangroves, in particular, have suffered significant losses as forests worldwide are cleared to make way for shrimp farms. By some estimates, shrimp farming is responsible for 10% of global mangrove loss (FAO 2006).
Nutrient pollution from (fish) waste and chemical pollution from compounds employed to kill parasites in mariculture species can have adverse effects upon the environment.
If genetically modified, farmed, species come into contact with wild stocks, there is the risk of “biological pollution” through interbreeding, which can weaken ecosystem structure and foster the spread of disease. If these non-native species establish viable populations, they may compete or prey upon native species to the point of driving them to extinction.
Certain mariculture methods can damage or destroy coastal habitats. Mangroves, in particular, have suffered significant losses as forests worldwide are cleared to make way for shrimp farms. By some estimates, shrimp farming is responsible for 10% of global mangrove loss (FAO 2006).
Nutrient pollution from (fish) waste and chemical pollution from compounds employed to kill parasites in mariculture species can have adverse effects upon the environment.
Human Health Impacts
Currently, over 1 billion people are dependent upon
fish as their daily source of protein. As the population continues to grow, it
becomes increasingly important to implement sustainable mariculture.
Demand for seafood is expected to continue growing by as much as 10 percent annually, or 11 million tons per year for the foreseeable future (FAO 2008).
The growing field of aquaculture has the potential to supplement nutrition, alleviate hunger, improve food security and reduce poverty in many regions (Subasinghe et al. 2009; WFS 2011). However, mariculture practices with poor wastewater treatment, and chemical and/or antibiotic use, can yield seafood that is hazardous to human health.
Demand for seafood is expected to continue growing by as much as 10 percent annually, or 11 million tons per year for the foreseeable future (FAO 2008).
The growing field of aquaculture has the potential to supplement nutrition, alleviate hunger, improve food security and reduce poverty in many regions (Subasinghe et al. 2009; WFS 2011). However, mariculture practices with poor wastewater treatment, and chemical and/or antibiotic use, can yield seafood that is hazardous to human health.
Economic Impacts
Aquaculture
has increased steadily from 2001-2009, with an average annual growth rate of
6.1%.
Mariculture production of the Whiteleg Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) increased nearly tenfold from 269,000 tonnes in 2001 to 2.3 million tonnes in 2009, and generated US$9.2 billion in 2009; the Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) generated US$6.4 billion (FAO 2009).
Mariculture production of the Whiteleg Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) increased nearly tenfold from 269,000 tonnes in 2001 to 2.3 million tonnes in 2009, and generated US$9.2 billion in 2009; the Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) generated US$6.4 billion (FAO 2009).
Get More Information
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Fisheries and Aquaculture Department
This database provides aquaculture
volume and value statistics by country or area, fishing area and culture
environment.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Fisheries Service (NOAA)
This
database provides quantity and value information for U.S. fisheries, searchable
by species, year(s), or state/area.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada: Aquaculture Canada
Aquaculture
Canada provides an overview of aquaculture activity, production rates, economic
and employment activity, and output by species.
References
Beardmore, J. and J. Porte. 2003. Genetically modified
organisms and aquaculture.FAO Fisheries Circular, no.
989.
Bostock, J., B. McAndrew, R. Richards, K. Jaunce, T.
Telfer, K. Lorenzen, D. Little, L. Ross,
N. Handisyde, I. Gatward and R. Corner. 2010.
Aquaculture: global status and trends. Philosophical Transactions of the
Royal Society B-Biological Sciences 365:
2897-2912.
Subasinghe, R.,
D. Soto and J. Jia. 2009. Global aquaculture and its role in sustainable
development’, Reviews in Aquaculture 1(1): 2-9.
Trujillo, P., 2008. Using a mariculture
sustainability index to rank countries’ performance. Pp. 28-56 In: Alder, J.
and D. Pauly (eds.) A comparative assessment of biodiversity, fisheries and
aquaculture in 53 countries’ Exclusive Economic Zones.’ Fisheries Centre
Research Reports. Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia.
Subasinghe, R., D. Soto and J. Jia. 2009. Global
aquaculture and its role in sustainable development’, Reviews in Aquaculture 1(1): 2-9.
WFS. 2011. Aquaculture, fisheries, poverty, and food security. Working Paper 2011-65. WorldFish Center, Penang, Malaysia. Available online at: http://www.worldfishcenter.org/resource_centre/WF_2971.pdf.
PHOTO(S): © Keith A. Ellenbogen