The Aquavision concept of organic carp & backyard fish farmingWith reference to applying a holistic approach to developing aquaculture
sustainably Jimmie Hepburn
Aquavisionwww.aquavisiononline.com [email protected]
What’s on your mind?
What’s organic carp or backyard fish farming got to do with saving the
planet?
The story starts a long time ago…
The impact of aquaculture?
A whole complex of impacts……
MSc in Human Ecology….
How can aquaculture in Scotland develop toward sustainability?
Our remit today is to sketch out a map which could help …….
Towards a Sustainable Finfish Aquaculture Industry for England
The “S” wordSUSTAINABILITY!
We need a direction – we need a map
Where will our protein come from in 50 years time?
The arrival of the third millennia – when people realised that the world has finite resources and it is our responsibility to manage these resources for future generations
We need to avert the collapse of global fisheries through developing a comprehensive sustainable development strategy
We will need to develop sustainable aquaculture systems on a massive scale – to feed the world’s population and it’s growing affluence
How sustainable is a fish farm?
DEVELOPMENT
ENVIRONMENT
COMMUNITY PROCESSES
ECOSYSTEM PROCESSES
SUSTAINABLE AQUACULTURE
Ecosystem Processes
Ecosystem Structure –boundaries & integration
Ecosystem Function Cycles and feed back-input / output balance
Ecosystem Management within the farm to produce fish products –ecological intensification or diversification
Community Processes – how people organise themselves
Community processes outside the farm
Community processes inside the farm
The work of sustainable development
Practical Solutions
Developing & applying theory
Sustainability issues
General / global issues on sustainability
Specific/ local sustainability issues
Intensive or extensive ?
Characteristics Extensive Aquaculture
Intensive Aquaculture
Inputs Self-sufficiencyWasteNo. of Spp.Energy input Market Economy Diversification
LowClosed systemUseful - recycledSeveralLow Near to farmSubsistenceConsiderable scope
HighOpen systemHazardous OneHighFar away from farmCapital intensiveLimited scope
Semi intensive- the answer?
Extensive Intensive Semi - intensive
Effective communication We need to speak to the
‘right’ people Information flow in one
direction e.g. trade association and regulator
Stakeholders not fully integrated
People can change there minds e.g. the development of a furunculosis vaccine
A question of attitude…knowledge function
Effective networking Value of networks Action Centred Networks to reach
a decision through consensus –which are characterised by: Stake holder equity Multi disciplinary team Participation / learning essential Committed to the specific task Link pin organisation – to drive
the initiative through Example: Soil Association
development of an organic aquaculture standard
How do we put theory into practice?
NETWORKS
Feedback Deeds
Ideas Feedback
Theory Practice
How sustainable could Upper Hayne be?
Organic conversion...why?
Organic Regulation
35 certification standards in the world (19 in Europe)
28 are independent organisations (e.g. Soil Association)
Problems of harmonisation and dilution of standards
America Europe Asia Africa Aust/ NZ
No. of producers
47 123 752 1 12
Vol. (T) 7,000 24,500 19900 2000 <1000
Trend X X XXX XX X
Global production of organic aquaculture 2008
Certified production 2008
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Number of operations
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No. of operations per country
Organic Aquaculture Production
UK – current certified fish/shell fish Salmon Trout Charr Bivalves Carp
Why carp?
Not to make a quick buck!
Globally carp is farmed and eaten widely
A relatively easy species to farm the whole system – sustainably
We need to move on from ‘Stone Age’ aquaculture
Growing carp organically
More questions than answers! Is it possible to fulfil the
current organic standard? Adequate and cost effective
protein supplements DO levels affecting
productivity How to boost productivity of
ponds Develop appropriate markets Processing challenges Economic viability of semi
intensive carp culture
Carp for the table – a future?
It can be done and there is a potential market
There is a need for enthusiastic producers and researchers to give semi insensitive carp (& other spp.) serious consideration
Small scale production?
Backyard Fish Farming (BYFF)
2 million garden ponds in the UK
A nation of fish keepers or hunters
Until now aquaculture has been left to the professionals
Is there an opportunity? Definition Existing BYFF
Similarities between ornamental fish culture and table fish culture
Could be similar sized systems Basic components are the same whether at pond
scale or within a recirculation system People are already ‘farming’ fish Can be intensive or extensive grown Must be relative easy to do (yet to be proven by
BYFF)
Differences between ornamental fish culture and table fish culture
Bio mass Water quality criteria Management
intensification – e.g. water flows, water use,
Aesthetic e.g. –herbaceous border versus the vegetable patch
Two approaches to BYFF
Intensive: recirculation system – tank or small pond (up to 35000l) requiring active filtration
Extensive: large pond for rearing fish – (above 50m2)
Species which could be considered for growing in a BYFF system
Carp Tilapia Sturgeon Grass carp Tench Catfish Trout Eel Perch Zander
Small is beautiful
Will not fill the fish protein gap
Could be a valuable education tool to raise awareness of the issues & change behaviour?
Rising interest – courses at Upper Hayne – people wanting to do a wide range of projects, could this help to solve the problem?
Has the problem been solved? Not yet! For aquaculture in England to
develop sustainably, a holistic approach is needed in all the main spheres (e.g. social, economic, ecological etc.) and in addition, must be driven by committed effective networks – all for the benefit of our future generations
The aquaculture of the future will likely play an increasingly wider role – farming our still freshwaters or growing fish in our back garden are just two such examples!