Some aquaculture facilities can cause damage to surrounding ecosystems via habitat conversion and pollution.

It is common for aquaculture operations, such as open-net pens and shrimp ponds, to be located in coastal areas. These locations are usually prime nursery, shelter and feeding grounds for marine species, many of which are also important for commercial fisheries.

The Challenge

Consumer demand for shrimp has fueled the rapid growth and expansion of farmed shrimp in regions such as Asia and South America. As a result, the shrimp industry now relies on a boom and bust model – where mangrove forests are converted to ponds and eventually abandoned once destroyed. Today, shrimp farming is a leading cause of mangrove destruction and deforestation around the world.

Uncontained farmed shrimp facilities release untreated waste and chemicals directly into the surrounding ecosystem. The pollution created from an open-net pen or pond can include fish/shrimp feces and uneaten food, plus pesticides and antibiotics used to control parasites and diseases.

The Solution

Farm locations, or siting, should avoid sensitive or ecologically important habitats. Even when appropriately sited, “open” aquaculture operations will continue to release effluent. The extent of the impact of this effluent can be managed to some degree by operators shifting to more biodynamically suitable locations, where the risk to the ecosystem is deemed to be lower by scientists and regulators (e.g. the shift of near-shore open-net pen farms to offshore). However, closed containment farms provide the most sustainable solution, as waste is captured and treated.

The type of seafood we farm also influences whether or not farms create waste and pollution. Increasing aquaculture production, such as off-bottom shellfish farms, would benefit our oceans. Shellfish farming requires no feed inputs or chemicals, and is typically considered to have a positive effect on water quality. Shellfish is generally considered one of the most environmentally friendly aquaculture products.

Other Aquaculture Sustainability Considerations:

• Depletion of Wild Fish Stocks used in Feed
• Disease, Parasites and Chemical Release
• Competition and Interbreeding from Escapes