Aquaculture, or fish farming, continues to grow throughout the world, outpacing all other sectors of animal food production. According to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, the United States ranks third globally in seafood consumption. To meet these demands, Paul Greenberg, author of "Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food," notes that fish farming will soon exceed wild catch.
Regulation
To ensure the safe consumption of farmed fish, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration follows a law effective since 1997: Procedures for the Safe and Sanitary Processing and Importing of Fish and Fishery Products. The regulation focuses on fish farming safety and the prevention of hazards. Through this law, the FDA implements a seafood inspection program, regulates antibiotics and fish food additives, and issues import alerts in response to contaminants or banned substances.
Risks
In addition to human contamination from food additives and antibiotics fed to fish, safety concerns over farmed fish include risks to wild fish populations. Farmed fish, living close together in ocean cages or netted pens, transfer diseases and parasites to wild fish that swim by. Also, scientists find that fish farm escapees interbreed with wild fish populations, diminishing the ability of wild fish to survive. James Owen reports in National Geographic News that a study in 2008 found wild salmon stocks swimming close to fish farms declined by more than 50 percent.
Pollution
Fish farming also presents a safety concern to overall water quality. In an article for "Time" magazine titled "Is Fish Farming Safe," authors Terry McCarthy and Campbell River mention a leading biologist from Canada's Department of Fisheries who explains that the amount of liquid waste from a large salmon farm rivals that of a small city. However, the amount of pollution created by fish farms depends largely on the type of species under production. The Environmental Defense Fund points out that raising filter-feeding species, such as oysters or mussels, enhances local water quality.
Alternatives
Ensuring the safety of consumers and our environment depends on multiple factors. Strong regulations for food safety standards and inspections, along with innovative fish farm design and operation can eliminate some present concerns. For example, raising fish in tanks on land can prevent escapees from harming the wild population and stop diseases from spreading. In addition, requiring wastewater treatment processing reduces pollution.
Future
As Owen reports in National Geographic News, the demand for seafood will increase by 40 percent by 2030, according to statistics from the United Nations' FAO. If you opt for farmed fish, support safety regulations. If you opt for wild fish, make informed seafood choices. From its website, the Blue Ocean Institute offers searchable and wallet sized guides, as well as a Seafood Widget, an iPhone application called FishPhone, and text messaging Q&A---all to help consumers make sustainable and eco-friendly choices.
References
- Agriaculute Summit: World Review of Fisheries and Aquaculture, 2006 Report: Global Aquaculture Economic Facts
- NPR: Farmed Fish, Food Fish; Wild Fish, Few Fish: Melisa Block
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Food: Enhanced Aquaculture and Seafood Inspection -- Report to Congress
- National Geographic News: Farmed Salmon Decimating Wild Salmon Worldwide: James Owen
- "Time" magazine: Is Fish Farming Safe?": Terry McCarthy, Campbell River; 2002
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