Many traditional farmers in West Bengal have diversified into shrimp aquaculture. But while it has made some farmers rich, others have found it has put their livelihoods – and perhaps even their lives – at risk.
A new report by the Dutch-based Changing Markets Foundation claims that retailers, including top UK supermarkets, are linked to “illegal, unsustainable fishing operations in India, Vietnam and The Gambia”.
On the day that Eels: Biology, Monitoring, Management, Culture and Exploitation, is launched, The Fish Site caught up with Paul Coulson, who co-edited the book with Andy Don, to find out more about the enduring appeal of anguillids.
While aquaculture is often associated with degrading water quality, invasive species introductions and the destruction of important coastal habitats, increasing evidence suggests that well-designed and managed aquaculture – particularly of shellfish and seawee…
Wider application of genetic improvement in aquaculture, with a focus on selective breeding, will help boost seafood production without the need to hugely increase the volume of inputs – including feed, land and water – required by the sector.
East of India’s populous city of Kolkata, the largest natural sewage treatment works in the world also supports a thriving regional carp farming industry. But the city’s relentless growth is threatening the wetlands, along with the livelihoods of those who dep…
Oyster restoration has long been a priority for The Nature Conservancy. Shellfish serve as nature’s water-purification system, filtering sediment, algae and excess nutrients from the water. Their reefs provide nurseries and feeding grounds for fish and other c…
Mowi farm technician Clara McGhee notes how incremental environmental changes - as can be observed on a seasonal basis from a salmon farm - are also having a wider, and more worrying, impact on the health of wild salmon across much of their range.
Despite struggling to achieve bulk production volumes and compete with global commodities such as fishmeal and soy, opportunities for alternative protein producers in aquafeed sector are only going to grow in the coming years.
Dennis Hedgecock, founder of Pacific Hybreed, hopes to bring cutting-edge breeding science to the US west-coast shellfish sector, to ensure the long-term success of a pivotal industry.
The recurring boom-and-bust cycles in aquaculture production, where upscaling leads to diseases and eventual production collapse, have been one of the key factors in the declining rate of the industry's growth over the past 15 years.
