Fish Farming and Fishing
By: Josh, Silas and Brandon
Why fish farming is a positive thing
- Maintains safe and natural levels of fish stock in oceans, lakes and rivers
- Many people use the fish industry as a major source of income
Why fish farming is a negative things
- Aquaculture's current heavy reliance on wild fish for feed carries substantial ecological risks.
- Unless the industry finds alternatives to using pelagic fish to sustain fish farms the aquaculture industry could end up depleting an essential food source for many other species in the marine food chain.
- There are other worrisome trends, such as the rapid expansion of other species now being farmed, which have much higher feed requirements.
Common Misconceptions
- Misconception #1: “Fish are farmed in dirty water and crowded conditions”
- Truth: While every farm is unique, it is in the farmer’s best interest to keep their farming conditions as beneficial to their fish as possible. Fish naturally school in close groups so even when there is a lot of space, the conditions may appear to be more cramped than they actually are. Dirty and diseased fish do not profit the farmers, and fish welfare linked to healthy environmental practices is becoming more of a priority worldwide.
- Misconception #2: “Aquaculture fish are constantly doused with antibiotics”
- Truth: Most aquaculture fish receive effective vaccinations and are closely monitored (with a veterinarian checking in if necessary) which means that medicinal use in aquaculture is not as common as one might think. In some regions, like British Colombia, some aquaculture companies like Marine Harvest Canada make this information publicly available online by reporting it to the government for posting.
Cruelty and Abuse
- On aqua farms, fish are kept in small, cramped, filthy enclosures where many fish suffer parasitic diseases, infections and debilitating injuries.
- Runoff and waste from factory farms contaminate the water which kills fish and other marine life.
What would happen if it were stopped?
There has been a large increase in the demand for fish over the years and more and more people are relying on it for a food source. So if it were to be stopped we could have a large spread food shortage.