Worldwatch Report: Farming Fish for the Future

Almost half of the seafood consumed today is farmed, although aquaculture is often associated with pollution, habitat degradation, and health risks. However, according to this Worldwatch Institute report, fish farming can help feed the global population and play a role in healing marine ecosystems from overfishing.

Demand for fish is increasing due to affordability and the desire for healthier foods. As a result, populations of marine and freshwater fish have been exploited to the point of decimation. Consequently, farmed seafood now provides 42% of the world’s seafood supply and will likely exceed more than half of world supply in the next ten years.

According to the Wordlwatch Institute, aquaculture offers benefits over traditional fishing; for example, uniform-sized fish fillets are available year round, at lower cost. However, fish farms can also generate excess feed and manure, and diseases escape farms. Properly guided farms, on the other hand, may offer less resource intensive methods while contributing to the global supply of fish.