Aquaculture

Define Aquaculture: 

Aquaculture is also known as fish or shellfish farming. It refers to the breeding, rearing and harvesting of plants and animals in all types of water environment including ponds, rivers, lakes and oceans. Aquaculture produces food fish, sport fish, bait fish, ornamental fish, crustaceans, mollusks, algae, sea vegetables and fish eggs.

Looking at social (on people), environmental, and economic pros and cons of aquaculture.

Social

            Pros:

·      Creates jobs in the community

·      Helps feed growing world population

·      Meets increasing consumer demand for seafood

            Cons:

·      May conflict with other users of water bodies such as lobstermen, fishermen or migrating fish

·      May threaten livelihood of fishermen

·      May have an impact on consumers health because of chemicals found in fish that come from fish farms

Environmental

            Pros:

·      Places more emphasis on protecting coastal waters from pollution, especially in the case of mollusk and seaweed culture

·      Fish farms can me made anywhere on the environment such as coastal areas, inland lakes, and rivers.

·      It is the fastest growing method of food production

            Cons:

·      Can pollute water systems with excess nutrients such as fish feed and wastes, chemicals and antibiotics

·      Can compromise the aesthetic beauty of coastlines

·      Issue with water contamination

Economic

            Pros:

·      Increases revenue on the city, state, and national level

·      Reduces seafood trade deficit

·      Encourages local investments

            Cons:

·      Can be an unpredictable enterprise for small local communities due to its susceptibility to severe weather, predators, disease, and global competition.

·      Causes a decrease in supply and demand depending on the limited amount of healthy fish or varying consumer demands

·      Requires a lot of funding

My point of view on aquaculture:

Considering the pros and cons of aquaculture, I would say it is a bad thing because of the negative impacts it brings. Aquaculture has impacts socially, environmentally and economically.  Socially, it has an impact on consumer’s health because of chemicals found in fish that come from fish farms. Environmentally, it pollutes water systems with excess nutrients (fish feed & wastes), chemicals and antibiotics. Economically, it is an unpredictable enterprise for small local communities due to its susceptibility to severe weather, predators, disease and global competition. Overall looking at the impacts it has in the different ways, it concludes to impact humans negatively in many ways. In my opinion aquaculture is not a good thing, mainly because of the fact that it puts a risks human health.