Aquaculture for all

Fish farming must move offshore

UK - The aquaculture industry is preparing itself for major changes with the unveiling of plans for a technologically advanced fish farm of the future at a conference in Edinburgh.

The three day long Aquaculture Today conference started yesterday (Tuesday) and will hear that modern aquaculture should move its operations further offshore rather than using inshore bases.

This innovation would be a huge process, but if the aquaculture industry grows to the level it is predicted to, it may be necessary.

The World Bank estimates that the production of farmed fish will surpass the production of beef by 2010 and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says global aquaculture production will have to nearly double by the year 2050 to meet consumer demand.

Ireland's Clare Island Seafarms is one of the most exposed fish farms in the world and they have already taken on board offshore farming techniques.

Aquaculture development manager of the Irish Sea Fisheries Board Donal Maguire will tell delegates on Thursday that "developing offshore aquaculture in real terms is an enormous and extremely important task."

Mr Maguire will also say: "We need to replace the green revolution with the blue revolution."

Source: Shetland Marine News
Create an account now to keep reading

It'll only take a second and we'll take you right back to what you were reading. The best part? It's free.

Already have an account? Sign in here