whose ocean? and other cautions in aquaculture
What a difference a month makes. In mid-December, the Hawaii press was touting the islands’ offshore aquaculture industry as a major success story.
Now, the press is reporting the cautionary notes previously mentioned here and calling for more oversight.
Thanks to Pew, this issue has been the focus of an 18-month review by an independent panel of ocean science experts.
Why is this important?
Early evidence from Hawaii’s experimental farms suggest waste, disease and pressure on wild fish populations are key issues, as yet unresolved.
In sum, the Sustainable Marine Aquaculture report urges that the federal marine aquaculture program should be “precautionary, science-based, socially and economically compatible with affected coastal communities, transparent in decision makingâ€.
The report notes that it currently takes about 13 pounds of feed products made from wild fish to grow 2 pounds of high-quality farm-raised fish. It also specifically recommends that the cultivation of nonnative and genetically modified species be avoided.
The authors conclude that the changes in benthic infauna over the course of the study follows a typical pattern for organic enrichment of sediments, as the site under the sea cages evolved into a highly polluted site and the site 80 meters down-current followed, indicating that the benthic effects had spread well beyond the physical footprint of the sea cages. In this case, notwithstanding the “open water†location of sea cages and robust longshore current, substantial alteration of the benthic environment resulted from commercial marine aquaculture operations.
Interestingly, the report cites special concerns for near-shore aquaculture in the islands:
“Public concern in Hawaii about marine aquaculture appears to have less to do with environmental impacts than with traditional and Common Law rights of access to fishing grounds. The superimposition of a modern property rights regime—the leasing of ocean space—on what had previously been either common property resources or rights-based fisheries derived from Hawaiian cultural traditions has raised sensitive issues regarding access and privilege.”
“As research in this area continues, said task force member Bruce Anderson, Hawaii’s representative on the nine-member task force, says “it will be a major challenge for the industry to continue to grow while reducing its dependence on wild fish for feeds”. His company, Oceanic Institute, isfocusing on the development of feed alternatives.
The Task Force makes seven national policy recommendations:
- a national program of marine aquaculture, including both strong environmental safeguards and provisions to balance offshore aquaculture with other ocean uses.
- an orderly, well-planned and environmentally sustainable development of offshore aquaculture
- standards for protection of marine wildlife and ecosystems before permits may be issued for offshore aquaculture.
- require inclusion of environmental standards as enforceable conditions of site and operating permits.
- ensure mitigation of damage to marine resources resulting from the private use of ocean space and ecosystem services.
- provide incentives for activities and projects that protect the marine environment and promote sustainable marine aquaculture.
- a comprehensive management regime for U.S. marine waters in which marine aquaculture and other uses can be managed in a way that protects the health, integrity, and productivity of marine ecosystems.
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