Farming Fish vs. Commercial Farming, Essay Example

Introduction

This paper reviews the significance and consequences from human caused agricultural sources of pollution.  Specific emphasis being on farming fish vs. that of commercial fish farming.  The study considers two important perspectives: (1) pollution that is causing biological or environmental damage (2) the sources of pollution in their various forms, and the impact in terms of sustaining the natural ecosystems.  The paper contrasts the approach adopted between that of fish farming in an artificial environment, and commercial fishing for wild fish in our seas and oceans.  Which of these approaches creates the most significant cause of pollution?  Consideration of the  holistic view, in terms of long-term damage to our natural ecosystem.

The world is dependent upon fish as a source of nutritional food.  Statistics indicate that of all the fish we consume, one in four is raised on a fish farm.  This type of business being termed aquaculture.  This approach to raising fish for domestic consumption is considered very expensive as compared to wild fish caught in the seas and oceans.  Of more significant importance is the concept of pollution in terms of raising fish on a farm.  This paper explores the contrast between  both approaches and points out the significance and consequences of pollution.

Fish Farms

The David Suzuki foundation conducted an investigation into an open net cage fish form of pollution.  These being tanks  that are allowed to float in the ocean, where the fish are raised and farmed.  It was found that these generate a launch amount of pollution owing  to the fish excrement in a confined area.  In addition, it was discovered that there is a build-up of sedimentary deposits of surplus food hitting the seabed.  This type of pollution was placed into two categories: 1.  Organic pollution, and 2.  Chemical pollution.

The main subject under review was that of salmon farms in BC, Canada.  Organic pollution arose from both the fish excrement and the surplus feed generated on the seabed.  Research indicated  that as much as 50% of each of uneaten dried feed can end up on the seabed.  In addition, pollution also created  fish mortalities that were allowed to rot on the seabed in certain  fish farms.  Also fish were gutted  on-site and the waste disposed directly into the fish cages , adding more pollution into the seabed.  Close inspection of the cages revealed that organic matter also builds upon the net cages and columns.  The results of this pollution was seen to impact the seabed from as far away as up to 50 metres  from the cages. ” The 49,600 tons of farm salmon produced in BC in 2000 contributed  as much nitrogen equivalent to untreated sewage from 682,000 people”  (David Suzuki Foundation, 2009)

Chemical pollution at the fish farms, was the result of usage of the many chemicals to support the fish farm.  Examples of the type of chemicals used included:

• antibiotics and drugs fed to the fish;
• paint used on the net cages and columns;
• antifouling paints, containing copper and zinc, together with use of disinfectants.

There have also been incidents in China, where the fish farms have been ill in rivers next to industrial and agricultural land.  Chemicals used to spray crops on land have seeped into the water  drainage systems.  Untreated human waste has been disposed of in the rivers upstream of the fish farms.  Toxic chemicals released from manufacturing plants upstream of the fish farms have contaminated the fish farms with levels of mercury and other serious toxic chemicals.  A lot of the fish in China is not only consumed on a domestic basis, but also exported worldwide.

The high increases of copper and zinc in antifouling paints, not only impacts the fish in the fish farms, but also the crustaceans and other marine animals living in that system. ” In August 2001 the BC government reported 48% of farms in BC and sediments of copper and zero considered well below safety levels”  (David Suzuki Foundation, 2009).

Not all fish farms  are bad!  Some have promoted the concept of aquaculture in a more responsible and eco-friendly manner.  Brian Halweil , senior researcher at the world watch Institute stated ” fish farming is very useful and can help solve the food shortage for the fast-growing population”  (Halweil, 2008).  The problem resides with the fish farm management and the lack of standards, controls, and enforcement to prevent pollution.  Poor conditions like those in China illustrate the expense of poor administration

• $US hundred 20 million lost to bacterial diseases;
• $420 million lost in shrimp disease.

Halveil states that the best farms take advantage of the natural ecosystem for support, i.e. “Cooke aquaculture salmon farm in Back Bay, BC Canada takes advantage of the natural ecosystem cleansing service provided by blue mussels and kelp”.  (Halweil, 2008).

Open Sea Fish Farms

Federal regulators in the USA are extending from fishing to the open sea, as we continue to satisfy our appetites for less expensive shrimp, salmon and snapper.  A recent example is that of a facility operating from Puerto Rico in the Gulf of Mexico with a 62 foot diameter ocean-based aqua pod.  The huge cages or submersed in order to resist damage from hurricanes.  Fishermen on commercial vessels have indicated that fish farmed in this manner will significantly undercut the price of fish, and ultimately put them out of business.  The counterargument is that aquaculture creates jobs and helps the economy.  Others point to foreign imports from China in particular patient Fish containing carcinogenic chemicals.” The continental shelf in the western gulf slopes away quickly enough that farms could locate only 10 or 15 miles from shore, allowing companies to ferry workers, fingerlings and harvested fish back and forth economically”  (Nohlgren, 2009).

The latest move towards open sea fish farming is attracting a number of entrepreneurial businessmen.  Brian O’Hanlon on is one such person, who started his business in 2007.  He recognized the need to provide a new source of healthy omega three fish.  He identified the Cabia is being such a species currently not used in many restaurants or fish resellers.  His firm opened ‘Blue Sea Farms’ and  hopes to fill this gap in the market, thereby selling  this quality fish at a premium price.

The cost of the fish will be very high because of the high maintenance costs i.e., divers need to be employed to feed the fish, the enclosures are very expensive and in need of regular maintenance.  Nevertheless, the technology has improved and it  is now felt that this represents the future in commercial fishing.  It is acknowledged that by doing this type of fishing, offshore and in deeper waters reduces the risk of pollution, and generally improve the health and quality of the fish being raised.  At this point in time, offshore ocean fishing is just a fledgling industry.  Advantage against pollution, is that the waves and currents are constantly moving.  So there is no room for build-up of bacterial contamination.  O’Hanlon stated ” the dilution is so massive.  It cannot detect the waste downstream we are  over 200 feet deep with a sandy muddy bottom   and  no coral reefs.  We select the environment carefully for what we are doing”  (mcquaid, 2009).

Ocean trawling and ecological damage

The concept of offshore trawling, dragging a large net along the seabed to dredge up bottom dwelling fish, can create massive ecological damage.  Studies have been carried out off the southern coast of California and the results of been astounding.  “The fishing industry produces pollution in the form of oil, sewage, lost lines and nets, and plastic packaging. A study in Tasmania in 1989-1993 found that 1.5%-2.0% of Australian fur seals were entangled in plastic bands, rope or net ” (Commercial Fishing, 2010). The trawlers are killing off the many coral reefs, the natural feeding grounds for many species of fish.  This destruction is creating a wide degree of pollution.. ” one bottom trawler puts  more than 10 times the amount of suspended solids pollution per hour into the water column  than  all of the suspended solids pollution from all the sewerage, industrial, river and dredge disposal operations in the entire southern California coastal region ”  (New World Encyclopedia, 1970).

The result of all of this is that trawling, on a worldwide basis, is both endangering our marine environment and potentially killing off the feeding habitats of the fish.  Without ceasing this practice and allowing nature to replenish the environment and fish stocks eventually offers us a very bleak alternative to the future of commercial fishing.  The problems of this have not gone unnoticed, and many governments are now collaborating in trying to regulate this process. The other aspect is that of over fishing and the reduction of fish stocks by commercial trawling vessels. One such example being off the coast of Australia ” Most of the by-catch is dead or dying, and is thrown overboard. It includes many fish species, endangered sea turtles, and sea snakes. In the past, prawn trawlers caught an estimated 5000 turtles a year, of which up to 40% died. An estimated 120,000 sea snakes were also caught, and again about 40% died ”  (Commercial Fishing, 2010).

Other forms of offshore fishing

There are many other forms of offshore ocean fishing in these include lung lining [dragging a long line 80 talks behind a boat], purse seining, a form of net fishing for catching schools of fish.  Gill netting, catching fish by trapping the gills and nets etc.  the main objection to these ultimate types of fishing is the lack of regulation concerning waste and destruction of the non target species.  It is estimated that long line by the Japanese fleet kills in excess of 30,000  blue sharks  per annum.  The Hawks from one-liners.  Also killed countless seabirds, including that of petrels shearwaters, and albatross.  Gill netting, kills many types of untargeted species, and in 1981.  It was estimated that some 14,000 dolphins were killed in such nets.

The future of fish farming

It is estimated that aquaculture now provides some 50% of all the fish eaten worldwide. With the decline of stocks in the wild.  It is almost certain that this type of fish cultivation will play an important part in our future food supply.  Scientists already working on aspects of robotics and artificial intelligence applications for improving the environmental conditions of the Aqua pods.

The ocean aqua parts seem to have far more viability from a commercial perspective, and the ability to reduce pollution. Perhaps the only real concern is that of a genetically modified fish escaping into the wild.  Such escapees mixing with the wild fish make potential he upset the balance of nature. There is a possibility that such hybrid isolation in the wild may impact the immune system of the wild fish stocks, and thereby impact ecological considerations the ocean.  Scientists will need to carefully evaluate the risks involved against human need for ongoing food supplies, and that of interfering with the balance of nature.

Offshore fish farms are not faced with water charges for the costs of cleaning and other expenses, like the onshore fish farms. They do however incur  other costs like divers boat maintenance and fuel etc. The challenge for onshore fish farms is to both reduce pollution and increase the quality of fish stocks.  This means investing in research in  aquaculture systems that improve the quality of water and eliminates bacterial build-up or other forms of pollution. In Australia, a number of fish farms off investing large sums of money in the implementation of such systems.

Norway provides the best information on the use of open net and closed or containment aquaculture farms ” Norway, which produces more than half the world’s farmed salmon, has experience with closed containment going back almost two decades. The Norwegian firm Aqua Optima grows cod, halibut, tilapia, and other species of fish in closed-tank facilities in Europe and Asia” (Findlay, 2006).  Norway believes that there is not a lot of difference between the two types of onshore fish farming now, they are similarly expensive and both have the same biological needs.  ” Of course, investment costs are higher for these systems than sea cages, but from a technical and biological standpoint, no problem. Today, with the risk of sea lice, fish escapes, storms, and algae blooms, the operating costs should not be much higher for closed tanks,” (Findlay, 2006).

The concept of improved technological advances for off shore aqua pods is already being tested.  One particular concept being the ‘ propeller driven aqua pod, that does not require boats to tow it but instead relies upon a self-propulsion system to move it through the water.  This scheme has tremendous advantages because of its mobility. These big sets of propellers attached to the pod rotate the cage locations and therefore enable mobile fish farms without the depth problem becoming a major issue.  In addition it reduces risk of foul water quality and low oxygen content by removing the cage to an area that has not previously been exposed to fish farming.  Ocean aqua spheres already have relatively low risk in this area but these automation concepts reduce it even further.

Conclusions

It would seem highly unlikely that either onshore or offshore fish farming will be curtailed in the future. The world population continues to grow with a diminishing food supply in the ocean. As such, we need to provide artificial means of fish farming that are as close to the natural habitat provided by rivers and oceans.  Governments will need to support private business operations by way of grants and funding in order to deal with the costs for the nation of pollution and building a better quality in the fish supply. Research and development is also needed to look at the ways that can improve the technology in order to assist and develop this business area.  There remains a high deal of confidence that this can be achieved in the more affluent countries of the world.  Equally, there remains a high risk of underfunded operations in the Third World in poorer countries adopting this approach without due regard for the ecological and biological hazards.  this may present.  Increased globalization may go some way towards mitigating these risks.

Works Cited

Commercial Fishing. (2010). The Australian fishing industry . Retrieved 2 24, 2010, from Commercial Fishing: http://www.animalliberation.org.au/fishcom2.php

David Suzuki Foundation. (2009, 12). Open Netcage Fish Farm pollution. Retrieved 2 21, 2010, from David Suzuki Foundation: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/oceans/aquaculture/salmon/pollution.asp

Findlay, A. (2006, 8 30). Fish farming for the future. Retrieved 2 24, 2010, from Straight com: http://www.straight.com/fish-farming-for-the-future

Halweil, A. (2008, 9 21). Fish Protein Measurement. Retrieved 2 21, 2010, from FinFish Aquaculture Innovation. : http://finfish.org/blog/fish-farming-innovations-to-avoid-pollutiondiseases/

mcquaid, j. (2009, 12 3). In Search of New Waters,. Retrieved 2 24, 2010, from Environment 360: http://e360.yale.edu/content/feature.msp?id=2216

New World Encyclopedia. (1970, 1 1). Trawling. Retrieved 2 24, 2010, from New World Encyclopedia: http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Trawling

Nohlgren, S. (2009, 1 26). Economic gains from gulf fish farms and pollution fears compete. Retrieved 2 21, 2010, from St Petersberg Times: http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/article970480.ece