Responsible Aquaculture Program

I spent time lately reading many of the arguments "pro and con" that that seem to pop up when Aquaculture is the topic. Numerous opinions have been expressed and there doesn't appear to be a shortage of media attention in certain areas. That robust activity is welcome. It exists in discussions of any industry or of any practice. As educated consumers we are entitled to review information, decide one way or another and make our choices.

Aquaculture isn’t a new idea, people have practiced Aquaculture for a few thousand years, yet in the modern world today, we still debate just about every news release on the subject. Sometimes we read news statements that are generally based in fact and other statements that contain a few elements of truth designed and emphasized to trigger certain feelings within the population.

Sadly there are a few attention focused presentations within the media that carry very little true research value or census value, and lean toward a more mumble and jumble “argument” that almost always attempts to pigeon hole an industry while presenting the “we told you so attitude” directed at the normal consumer. The reasoning behind this isn’t within my ability to explain.

Last year I wrote a few pages concerning the history and needs satisfied by Aquaculture. In other writings I also talked about the need for improvement.

The Global Aquaculture Alliance efforts to improve the way that Aquaculture is conducted should not go un-noticed.

Statements from the website:

The Responsible Aquaculture Program was developed to promote best management practices for aquaculture operators. The RAP program encourages the culture of safe, wholesome seafood in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. More importantly, it is also intended to improve the efficiency and long-term sustainability of the aquaculture industry.

The Responsible Aquaculture Program began as a straightforward set of "Guiding Principles for Responsible Aquaculture" that promote a cooperative approach to establishing aquaculture operations that reflect environmental, economic, and social sustainability. The principles call for minimal ecological impacts, water conservation, improved feed and drug use, and reductions in effluents.

The Global Aquaculture Alliance is an international, nonprofit trade association dedicated to advancing environmentally and socially responsible aquaculture. GAA recognizes that aquaculture "the culture and farming of fish, shellfish and other aquatic organisms" is the only sustainable means of increasing seafood supply to meet growing food needs.””

Give the link a look.

If we didn’t farm anything period, full stop, where would we be? Can we feed 6 billion people on politics or advertising? Everyday people supply veggies, meats and fish to the world. Managing the resources will play a major factor in the future. Increasing the "food" and ecomonic value of the resources is a factor best left out of media spins.

My next post is going to be about using earth resources, we may explore how to ideas on using fish to grow veggies, or we may just as well think that food just happens.

Rob Freeman

No Catch Cod is Branded

Sustainable seafood firm adds cod brand
by Jennifer Whitehead Marketing 24 May 2006

LONDON - Johnson Sustainable Seafoods is launching a fresh fish brand called No Catch ...Just Cod, targeting ethically aware, health-conscious shoppers.

No Catch, which will be available in Tesco from 29 May, comes from the world's biggest cod hatchery in Shetland. The fish are fed offcuts of fish already harvested and have no contact with pesticides or dyes.

The packaging, through brand and design consultancy Bryt, is a departure from traditional fish branding and highlights the brand's ethical credentials. The packaging emphasises the product's origins and that it is "tasty, totally natural fish". It adds that it is the world's first organic, sustainable cod and uses the line "Good for you, great for fish".

Although cod is a favourite among consumers, there has been concern about its rapidly diminishing stocks, leading to restrictions on cod fishing in the Irish Sea, North Sea and off West Scotland.

Source: DesignBulletin

Fish farm forced to close?

David DeKok

One of the larger and more successful commercial fish farms in the northeastern U.S. might be forced to shut down its operations on the Susquehanna River.

PPL Corp. needs to build cooling towers for its power plant at Brunner Island, where Susquehanna Aquaculture also is located. The fish farm thrives because it gets free hot water from PPL. So if the company must move, it cannot remain profitable.

The owner of the fish farm, which sold 400,000 pounds of live striped bass last year to fish markets in the U.S. and Canada, hopes the business can relocate elsewhere on Brunner Island, which is below York Haven and between York and Lancaster counties. But PPL is pessimistic that there is enough space to accommodate both the fish farm and everything else it plans to build on the small island in the next 10 years.

"We don't want to provide any false optimism," said PPL spokesman George Lewis. "We know he wants to stay, but it becomes an issue of not having enough space for everything."

The fish farm opened in May 1989, taking over and expanding a research project PPL had started. Susquehanna Aquaculture uses free hot water discharged from the Brunner Island plant as it makes electricity. The water keeps the stripers warm in their pens year around. By also giving the fish oxygen-rich water and plenty of good feed, the fish grow to full size in a year rather than three years.

It is the only striped bass farm in the Northeast.

Read Full Story from GrowFish.com.au

Being able to use a heat resource to grow fresh fish at near optinum conditions puts an other wise waste resource to benefical use. I sure hope that they can find a solution and keep growing those stripers. I have eaten their product while visiting Toronto. Very good eating!