SUSTAINABLE AQUACULTURESUSTAINABLE AQUACULTUREDr. Elena Mente

Assistant Professor

School of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, University of Thessaly,

Volos, Greece

Overview of my presentationOverview of my presentation

•• World aquaculture World aquaculture productionproduction

•• European aquaculture European aquaculture productionproduction

•• Sustainable aquaculture Sustainable aquaculture •• Organic aquacultureOrganic aquaculture––

present and future present and future •• ConclusionsConclusions

WWorldorld fisheriesfisheries andand aquacultureaquaculture productionproduction andandutilizationutilization production (million tonnes)production (million tonnes)

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 20051

INLAND Capture 8.8 8.9 8.8 9.0 9.2 9.6 AquacultureAquaculture 21.2 21.2 22.5 22.5 23.9 23.9 25.4 25.4 27.2 27.2 28.928.9Total inland 30.0 31.4 32.7 34.4 36.4 38.5

MARINE Capture 86.8 84.2 84.5 81.5 85.8 84.2 AquacultureAquaculture 14.3 14.3 15.4 15.4 16.5 16.5 17.3 17.3 18.3 18.3 18.9 18.9 Total marine 101.1 99.6 101.0 98.8 104.1 103.1

TOTAL CAPTURE 95.6 93.1 93.3 90.5 95.0 93.8 TOTAL AQUACULTURE TOTAL AQUACULTURE 35.5 35.5 37.9 37.9 40.4 40.4 42.7 42.7 45.5 45.5 47.847.8TOTAL WORLD FISHERIES 131.1 131.0 133.7 133.2 140.5 141.6

UTILIZATI0NHuman consumption 96.9 99.7 100.2 102.7 105.6 107.2 Non-food uses 34.2 31.3 33.5 30.5 34.8 34.4 Population (billions) 6.1 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Per capita food fishsupply (kg) 16.0 16.2 16.1 16.3 16.6 16.6Note: Excluding aquatic plants. 1 Preliminary estimate. (SOFIA 2006).

MainMain farmedfarmed speciesspecies productionproduction expressedexpressed ininvolume volume ((tonnestonnes)) inin EuropeEurope (2001)(2001)

Mente, E. Pierce, G.J., Santos, M.B. and Neofitou, C. (2006). The effect of fish feed and feeding on the marineaquatic environment: a review for the European aquaculture. Aquaculture International. 14 (5): 499-522

MainMain farmedfarmed speciesspecies productionproduction expressedexpressed ininvaluevalue ((euroseuros)) inin EuropeEurope (2001)(2001)

Mente, E. Pierce, G.J., Santos, M.B. and Neofitou, C. (2006). The effect of fish feed and feeding on the marineaquatic environment: a review for the European aquaculture. Aquaculture International. 14 (5): 499-522

EnvironmentEnvironment

Social issuesSocial issues

TasteTaste

SafetySafety

HealthHealth

Sustainable aquaculture

Sustainable AquacultureSustainable Aquaculturea) Ecological

- maintaining individual stocks of species at healthy levels and enhancing the quality of ecosystem and environment

b) Biological

- growth and Nutrition, health of farmed species.

c) Socio-economics

- Socio-economic sustainability is connected to the aggregate welfare of individuals, e.g. long-term employment, food security and income security. Prospects for the promotion and development of alternative employment and earnings opportunities such as aquaculture or tourism in order to absorb excess supply labour due to contraction of the fisheries sector and enhance individuals’ socio-economic welfare should be examined

d) Community- Institutional

- the long-term stability of communities and the integration of the local population into resource management and development practices. While socio-economic sustainability is focused on well being at the "individual" level, this component can be viewed as sustainability at a "group" level. Institutional sustainability is related to the manageability and enforceability of regulations governing activities such as aquaculture and fisheries.

Ecological-Biological

Community-

Institutional

Socio-

econom

ics

Biological interactions concerning traditional fishing, aquaculture and the environment

Interactions between coastal labour markets in traditional fishing and aquaculture and the regulatory environment

Bio-socioeconomic model

ΜcCausland, W.D., Mente, E., Pierce, G.J. and Theodossiou, I. (2006). A simulation model of sustainability of coastal communities: aquaculture, fishing, environment and labour markets. Ecological Modelling. 193: 271-294

Organic aquacultureOrganic aquaculture

Organic aquaculture relies on biological processes to manage the welfare of the animals, the nutrient inputs, the waste that it is produced and the environment in which they live.

• Organic aquaculture aims at: •Minimising the negative effect on the environment

•Maintaining a high level of biological diversity

•Respecting animal welfare•Satisfying the consumer acceptante

Organic aquaculture production Organic aquaculture production (estimate, in (estimate, in tonnestonnes))

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

5,000SalmonCarp/TroutShrimp/musselsOther

Source: Naturland, (Bergleiter, 2001), (Lem, 2004)

Year 2000 Year 2003

SalmonSalmon

ShrimpShrimp

Trout/carp/sea bream/sea Trout/carp/sea bream/sea bass/salmon/tilapia/sturgeon/bass/salmon/tilapia/sturgeon/

musselsmussels

(14000t in Europe)(14000t in Europe)

ShrimpShrimp

(8000t Asia)(8000t Asia)

Salmon/trout/codSalmon/trout/codMusselMussel

MusselMussel

TilapiaTilapia

SalmonSalmon

(3000t America)(3000t America)

TilapiaTilapia

Organic aquaculture Organic aquaculture production 2005 production 2005 10000 10000 --25000t?25000t?

Adapted from Lem, 2004

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023 2025 2027 2029

Organic Aquaculture

Feeding

Environment Management

Stock

Palatability

Physical quality

Nutritional content

Fish feeds

Temperature

Water quality

Oxygen

Many variables

Health (disease spread, parasites prevention)

Density (5000 fish per cage)

Genetic strain

Feeding protocol

Waste management

Other issues

Organic aquaculture in

Greece

Mente, E., 2007. Nutrition and certification of organic aquaculture of sea bream. A pilot study funded by

the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food.

Pilot project Started in 2007

Organic sea bream farming Organic sea bream farming in Greecein Greece Pilot project

Started in 2007

Field study in local fish farm in Larymna

Organic sea bream farming in GreeceOrganic sea bream farming in Greece

• Principles: • -Low stocking density• -Organic feed• -No use of antibiotics • –No use of chemicals• -Monitoring of water

quality• -Monitoring of flesh

quality

Organic sea bream farming in GreeceOrganic sea bream farming in Greece

Αριστηποιότητα

Εκτροφή φιλικήπρος το

περιβάλλον

ΒιολογικήΕκτροφή

Final Growth

Analysis of the quality of the final product

(proteins, amino acids, heavy metals, dioxins, lipids)

Establishment of standards for certification at the end of the project

ConclusionsConclusions

ConclusionsConclusions

•• Work is still needed to:Work is still needed to:-- Improve scientific knowledge Improve scientific knowledge -- Improve aquaculture practicesImprove aquaculture practices-- Address ecoAddress eco--labelslabels

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

Challenges:• sustainability of feed supply• introduction of bio controls- Diseases• place of polyculture in nutrient cycle• availability of suitable sites that meet the criteria• coherent approach to standards• maintaining supply/demand equilibrium