The Time to Chart a Course for Aquaculture is Now

By Jesse Trushenski, Chief Science Officer, Vice President of Animal Welfare, Riverence; Immediate Past President of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) and Past President of the Fish Culture Section of the AFS 

Demand for fish and shellfish is expected to increase by roughly 30 million tons in the next decade, driven by increases in both population and per capita seafood consumption. Yet, capture fisheries landings have not increased appreciably for 30 years. The anticipated impacts on wild fish populations from climate change and other human activity make it less likely that wild stocks will be able to withstand additional harvest pressure in the future.  

Aquaculture is the world’s most important source of seafood. Today, more than half of the seafood Americans consume is farm raised and the vast majority is imported. By establishing a clear and predictable legal and regulatory structure for marine aquaculture in the U.S., we can reduce on our overreliance on seafood imports and improve seafood security with wholesome, domestically farmed seafood with minimal environmental impact our marine habitat and resources. 

Capture fisheries in the U.S. are well-managed and productive, yet even the most optimistic assessments indicate we cannot sustainably meet the expected demand through capture fisheries alone. Indeed, allowable wild catch could even decrease.   

Climate change is altering marine and coastal ecosystems with significant implications for wild capture fisheries and marine economies. Projected increases in ocean temperature are expected to reduce the maximum catch potential in nearly all parts of the U.S.  Fish stocks are moving from one area to another—potentially across international or other jurisdictional boundaries with implications for ecosystem services, seafood supply, and working waterfronts. Sea level rise is expected to create major infrastructure challenges in coastal communities and—perhaps somewhat ironically—result in the loss of critical coastal and estuarine habitat for sensitive life stages of marine life. Ocean chemistry is changing, too, rendering some waters too acidic for crustaceans and threatening the base of the marine food web.  

Growing our domestic aquaculture industry will help to protect wild marine resources from the pressures of overharvest and to reduce the sizable carbon footprint that imported seafood leaves as it travels to our tables. Safeguards are already in place in existing laws and regulations to hold aquaculture facilities to a high environmental standard. Further, the advances in science, technology, and best management practices have substantially reduced the environmental impacts of aquaculture over the last 20 years. Research has significantly reduced the use of fish meal and oil in feeds and enabled development of sophisticated siting tools that minimize water quality impacts and degradation of the seafloor. Ongoing research and innovation will further reduce risk to aquatic resources, as will embracing aquaculture as an essential part of our domestic seafood and conservation portfolio. 

Now more than ever, it is important for Congress to chart a course for offshore aquaculture.  A clear, predictable, regulatory framework will enable growth of offshore aquaculture in a conscientious, environmentally sustainable manner. Healthy wild fisheries and responsible marine aquaculture can and must coexist if we are to feed ourselves and still fulfill our commitment to wild fish and wild places.