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Over 50% of seafood sourced: How has fish farming changed our eating habits?
As global demand for fish protein continues to increase, fish farming, the commercial breeding of fish, is increasingly becoming an important way to meet this demand. According to the report, since 2016, more than 50% of seafood has come from aquaculture. This change not only affects our eating habits, but also causes us to re-evaluate the sustainability and environmental impact of aquatic resources.
Fish farming allows the establishment of artificial fish stocks and provides adequate feeding, protection, and easy access to fishing, thus reducing pressure on wild fish.
Fish farming is a specific form of aquaculture, a process that usually involves breeding fish in fish ponds or tanks. This farming method is on the rise, especially in China, a country that currently accounts for 62% of global farmed fish production. Popular farmed fish species around the world include carp, catfish, salmon, African pomfret, etc.
However, the growth of fish farming is not without challenges. Particularly for carnivorous fish, such as salmon, this farming may actually lead to an increase in demand for wild fish, since farmed fish typically need to be fed fishmeal and fish oil, materials that are often derived from wild fish. Increased demand is putting wild fish stocks in many areas at risk of depletion.
Over the past three decades, aquaculture has been the main driver of growth in fisheries and aquaculture production, with an average annual growth rate of 5.3%.
With the popularity of fish farming, the types of aquaculture have become increasingly diversified, including a wide range of farming methods, such as intensive aquaculture and extended aquaculture. Intensive aquaculture assists in increasing fish production per unit area, while extended aquaculture relies on the natural environment to support fish growth. The choice of these methods is usually based on conditions such as water quality and sustainability of the site.
However, the impact of fish farming on the environment cannot be ignored. Especially in expanded aquaculture, the development of man-made ponds can lead to the destruction of many natural habitats, while the organic waste generated by farms can also harm the health of ecosystems. Studies show that some farms even produce as much organic waste as small cities produce each year.
Technological progress in fish farming has also prompted the use of new materials, such as copper alloy mesh, which can effectively prevent the growth of microorganisms and improve the breeding environment.
In many fish farms and culture systems, the ability to manage water quality is key to success. For example, intensive farming systems require careful control of water quality to reduce the risk of fish becoming infected with pathogens. Therefore, highly specialized farms place great demands on the knowledge and abilities of farmers.
This increase in demand has also promoted technological investment in fish farming, especially advances in technological applications (such as water circulation systems), making the sustainable development of the farming process more feasible. Some new systems can not only improve breeding efficiency, but also achieve a balance between food production and environmental protection, forming a virtuous cycle.
In this context, we cannot ignore the role of women in the breeding industry. In 2022, 24% of fishermen and fish farmers and 62% of post-harvest sector workers will be women, and their contribution in this sector is increasingly important.
While fish farming supplies seafood around the world, it also has a profound impact on our eating habits. Instead of relying solely on fishing, people are experimenting with farming the variety of fish on offer, which has allowed fish to enter a wider menu. However, how should we assess the environmental and dietary challenges posed by these changes?
