Cons of Aquaculture

By:

Megan StranskyNancy JoyceDano Ferons

Janell Johnson

Aquaculture Net Pens and Cages

Cages are rigid structures where the nets do not move

Net Pens are free flowing and nets are able to move with the current

Fish runs are used so that fish are able to swim in

circles to exercise muscles

Destruction of Natural Habitat

Pristine Salt Marsh Mission Bay, California

Mangrove Tree Grove Fish Farm in place of Mangroves

Effects on the Benthic Environment

Pristine Benthic CommunityArea underneath a fish farm. The sediment here has become anoxic due to the excess addition of biological waste.

The chart on the left shows how waste from the fish farm enters the environment and benthic sediment.

Aquaculture Defenses for Net Pens and cages

Netting is used to prevent predatory birds from eating fish

from the top of the Net Pen

Underwater Anti-Predator nets are used to deter mammalian predators

and diving birds. Diver is at the bottom of one of these nets. Fish are

held in a separate net pen above

Marine Birds and Mammals who have become victims of Aquaculture

Fish Meal and Fish Oil

• Fish Meal and Oil are manufactured from sardines, anchovies, sand eels, and other fin fish

• To create 2.2 lbs. of fish meal, it takes 10 lbs of smaller pelagic or open water fish

• Reverse protein factories• The ocean can not sustain

the amounts of fish used by the aquaculture industry

Farmed fish contain higher levels of PCB’s and dioxins than wild caught fish

Farmed salmon has 10 times the level of contaminants as wild salmon

Farmed fish receive large doses of antibiotics and are exposed a variety of pesticides

Food Safety

• antibiotics

• fungicides

• dyes

• PCB

• Mercury

• Genetically modified

Human health risks

•

Human Health risks

• Antibiotics:• Used in aquaculture pens to

control disease . antibiotics enter the water column

from nets and are ingested by wild marine life

In one study by the FDA, drug residues exceeded safe levels in wild fish around aquaculture nets.

By using antibiotics, this raises the risk of bacteria becoming resistance to antibiotics

The FDA states, “Unregulated/unapproved drugs administered to aquacultured fish pose a potential human health hazard. These substances may be carcinogenic, allergenic, and/or may cause antibiotic resistance in man.”

Human Health risks

Fungicides:Malachite green is a fungicide used to keep fungus off the fish eggs. Malachite green is a toxin, mutagenic, and carcinogenic Malachite green is prohibited in the USA the FDA does not inspect for malachite green in imported fish. Imported fish could be contaminated and you would not know until its to late.

Dyes:•artificial dye is added to the meat to make it resemble the red color of wild caught salmon. •The dyes are not well known on whether there are health risks •a study has compared artificial dyes to hyperactivity in children and possible retinal damage.

Human health risks

Human health risksEnvironmental toxins:•PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are highly toxic industrial compounds. •Farmed salmon contain such high levels of PCB that its not recommended to eat more than one meal a month based on the EPA’s recommended exposure level. Mercury:•Predatory fish such as tuna and salmon can have mercury concentrations in their bodies that exceed safely levels. •It’s a huge hazard to pregnant women and small children. •Mercury poisoning can cause blood pressure regulation, memory loss, tremors, vision loss and numbness of the fingers and toes.

Case studies on PCB’s

Based on the EPA Children of mothers who

ate fish with large amounts of PCBs from the Great Lakes had smaller head size, reduced visual recognition and delayed muscle development.

Older adults (49 to 86 years old) who ate fish containing PCBs and other contaminants had lower scores on several measures of memory and learning.

Genetically modified fish

• Genetically modified fish are being produced to enhance efficiency of fish production.

• Genetically modified fish grow quickly, resist disease, and can live in a large range of temperatures.

• These frankenfish increase economic value of producing more fish in a shorter amount of time.

• Genetically modified fish can lead to new allergens and reactions.

Socio-Economics1) Threaten livelihood of

fishermen, lobstermen, etc.

2) Expensive to start new farm

3) Take a long time to see profit

4) Banks skeptical about loans

5) Resource Expenses6) Lack of Appropriate

areas to create farms combined with public opposition

800 Tons of fish died & rotted in fish farms in lake in Philippines

http://www.pbs.org/emptyoceans/fts/fishmeal/viewpoints.htmlhttp://truefoodnow.org/campaigns/fish/http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-food/aquafarming.aspxhttp://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1663604,00.htmlhttp://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/human%20health%20and%20aquaculture%20fact%20sheet.pdfhttp://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/content/media/MBA_SeafoodWatch_WestCoastGuide.pdfhttp://apps.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=15904Tomasso, J. R (editor). 2002. Aquaculture and the Environment in the United States. U.S. Aquaculture Society, A chapter of the World Aquaculture Society, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.

Work Cited

Aquaculture is not the best alternative to overfishing

Rebuttal

Overfishing in the Wild

Aquaculture IS an Environmental Issue, still.

We are only supposed to have 2-3 servings of fish per week due to high mercury levels Other sources of Omega-3

fatty acids: walnuts, flaxseed, and hemp

Other protein sources should be encourage

Only fish the amount we actually need

Replant lost habitat (questions arise with corals)

Innovative ways to avoid bycatch

• Turtle Escape Doors• Pingers place on nets

emit beeping noise keeping porpoises, dolphins, other sea mammals away

• Protecting endangered fish – use seafood guide when purchasing fish in store & restaurants

• Fisheries respond to consumer pressures – results in healthier ocean

Inhumane treatment of farmed fish

Farmed fish are confined to cramped and filthy enclosures being exposed to parasitic infections, diseases, and debilitating injuries

Effects on Marine Birds and Mammals