The Dangers in Aquaculture's Boom
Tuesday, February 1, 2005; Page A16 - Washington Post
Encouraging the aquaculture industry sets a troubling precedent in the
United States [front page, Jan. 24]. This relatively new industry entices
consumers with rock-bottom prices and illusions of sustainability, but the
repercussions of this "blue revolution" are felt individually and at a
global level.
Aquaculture is being marketed as a new protein source, but consumers aren't
hearing all the facts. Fish feed, such as plankton, is harvested from the
ocean to feed farm-raised seafood, leaving wild fish populations at even
greater risk and ultimately causing a net loss of protein. Consider shrimp,
the No. 1 seafood choice in the United States for three years running:
Nearly 90 percent of the shrimp we eat is farm-raised, amounting to more
than 1.1 billion pounds each year. Up to three pounds of wild-caught fish is
needed to raise just one pound of farm-raised shrimp.
Not only are the oceans still being depleted, but many shrimp farms depend
on staggering amounts of antibiotics, fungicides, algaecides and pesticides
to fight diseases that run rampant in the polluted ponds created to harvest
the shrimp. Research shows that over time, bacteria exposed to antibiotics
may become more resistant to those antibiotics, and patients infected with
such bacteria are more difficult to treat.
We shouldn't encourage similar farms to sprout up across the United States.
Educated consumers should avoid farm-raised shrimp and fish.
WENONAH HAUTER
Director, Food Program
Public Citizen
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TO WENONAH HAUTER-
I am an American MSc. aquaculture student and I am not getting paid for
promoting the aquaculture industry. I am not a huge supporter of shrimp
monoculture, but your article was way overboard. The Washington Post, a
credible newspaper, should be ashamed after publishing your article and your
organization should be reprimanded for its shortsighted perspective. The
Public Citizen, a body that protects health, safety, and democracy, has no
right to condemn aquaculture by saying, “educated consumers should avoid
farm-raised shrimp and fish.” The uneducated can respect your dated
position, but the industry is currently becoming more sustainable. Years
ago, there was an excessive use of antibiotic, hormone, chemicals and
fishmeals, but today unnecessary overuse is a dieing trend. You were able to
sum up the industry with the “Up to three pounds of wild-caught fish is
needed to raise just one pound of farm-raised shrimp” slogan, but that is
also no longer the case. This and other uninformed/dated perspectives are
setting precedence and they must be stopped. More importantly, they are
fear-mongering techniques that should not be promoted by an organization
that represents the public citizen. Worldwide, there are a variety of farms
that promote the incorporation of vegetable fats and proteins into feeds and
have zero tolerance for antibiotic, hormone and chemicals. Like other
livestock producers, the FDA BMP’s are strictly adhered to. If you need
active commercial examples they are readily available upon your request.
The aquaculture industry is being reformed and the public should be aware of
that. Your article doesn’t mention other aquaculture based industries such
as, bioreactors that create renewable energy resources/health supplements
from microalgae, ornamental growers that take the pressure off the reef, the
use of molluscs/shellfish to filter bays and agricultural run-off,
integrated agriculture/polyculture of freshwater fish and vegetables and
sponge farmers that supply researchers with products to cure diseases.
Aquaculture is also becoming a vehicle for renewable energy resources such
as geothermal, wind and solar power. The integration between renewable
energy, agriculture, aquaculture and natural fisheries is rapidly becoming
the commercially and environmentally acceptable alternative. The aquaculture
industry is extremely diverse and your article in no way represents that
diversity. Your organization is unaware of the importance of the aquaculture
industry as a whole and your article is a shocking example of its ignorance.
The “blue revolution” will continue to evolve, as did the “green
revolution”, and the people that care about this planet will learn from its
mistakes and develop rules to promote sustainable growth. Shrimp farming and
other aquaculture industries will always be responsible for their end
products. That doesn’t give “The Public Citizen” the right to use an
out-dated wepon to bash the aquaculture industry as a whole. You did not
list one benefit of aquaculture and I feel that your article is a personal
attack on a misrepresented industry.
Sincerely,
Scott E. Zimmerman
Director/Owner
MarineAquafarms.com/SeafoodFarms.com-
"Linking Partners for More Productive Oceans"
http://www.marineaquafarms.com
marineaquaculture@hotmail.com
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Tue Feb 01 2005 - 17:45:41 PST