The environmental impacts of aquaculture are often in the spotlight. The need for sustainable practices is now firmly embedded in the minds of the public, governments and industry – but this sometimes presents trade-offs in fish welfare.
The Russian aquaculture sector is facing the deepest crisis in its modern history, as the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the ever tightening sanctions on Russia has led to a shortage of fish feed, juveniles and equipment.
The links between food system sustainability, nutrition and public health concerns cannot be ignored at a time when governments, industries and the civil society are gathering in Egypt for COP27.
Basel Ahmed is the founder and CEO of Octopus, which claims to be the, “first scientific aquaculture initiative in Egypt and the Arab region that is managed by youth and covers production, disease control and environmental awareness."
Most of the fish currently farmed in the sea are carnivores, but there’s a strong argument for producing more marine herbivores, which don’t depend on diets containing fish meal and fish oil.
