Sustainable Aquaculture Texas Envirothon -Aquatics- Teacher Workshop January Jenny Oakley Environmental Scientist

Aquatic Resource Consumption In the US, 16 ½ lbs of seafood/person/year o US population (2012): ~314million = ~5.2billion lbs/year US imports over half of the seafood it consumes. Global total production =148.5 million tons in 2010.

Fish is good for you…right? Institute of Medicine: recommends a diet rich in seafood. Lean, heart healthy source of protein But, Is all seafood safe to eat? o PCBs o Heavy metals o DDT o Hormones o Radiation?

Overfishing Definition: Catching too much fish for the system to support by reproduction. o Economically extinct fisheries o Fishing down the food-chain o Bycatch o Irreversible consequences Overfishing Video LINKLINK

OMG, we are doomed! Wait, is this some kind of fish story? o Sample methods o Population numbers = a guess o Middle Ground Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act o Sustainable fisheries act of 1996 o National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA) o U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service o State Parks and Wildlife Department

So… how do we provide food? Aquaculture production = avg. growth of 6.3 % per year 2010, value of aquaculture production ~ at $119.4 billion. Top 10 aquaculture producers In 2010, contributed 87.6 % of world production by quantity.

Aquaculture Output of Aquaculture : o Consumption Direct: fish market Indirect: fish meal or byproducts o Stock wild populations TPWD = 40 million fish in public lakes, ponds, and saltwater bays Definition: the farming of aquatic organisms.

What is being produced? Major cultured species: o Freshwater Fishes: 56.4% o Molluscs: 23.6% o Crustaceans: 9.6% o Diadromous Fishes: 6.0 % o Marine Fishes: 3.1% o Other: 1.4%

Aquaculture Types Farm/Tank vs Ranch/Cage

Aquaculture Products FishAmphibians Invertebrates Reptiles Plants

Is Aquaculture the Answer?

Environmental Impacts Loss of natural habitat o Water needs Coastal areas: Mangroves Riparian zone: Rivers Loss of genetic diversity o Brood Stock

Environmental Impacts Cont. Water Usage o Intake screens o Water rights Pollution o Eutrophication o Thermal pollution o Disease and Pathogens o Antibiotics, steroids, & drug resistant pathogens

Environmental Impacts Cont. Escapees o Invasive species Asian Carp LINKLINK o Genetic pollution Predator Control o Permitted and Unpermitted control of birds, marine mammals, etc. Physical removal Sonar

Environmental Impacts Cont. Feeding Fish with Fish? o Wild caught fish used to feed aquaculture o Farming carnivores LINKLINK

Sustainability of Aquaculture Proper site selection o Permitting requirements Reduce overfeeding o Cuts costs of food o Reduces nutrient buildup o Helps maintain D.O. levels Polyculture/Aquaponics o Utilizes natural foods efficiently o But is it possible large-scale?

Sustainability of Aquaculture Cont. Grow vegetarian fish & feed vegetarian food LINK LINK Closed Loop/Recirculating Systems o Addresses: Water needs, outfall pollution o Increase costs with expensive and complex filtration systems

Sustainability of Aquaculture Cont. Avoid overstocking o Reduced stress o Reduced disease/pathogen outbreak Minimize antibiotic use Sell and Buy Locally o Reduce transportation footprint Stock native species o Temperature requirements

What can you do? Make ocean-friendly seafood choices o Avoid unsustainable seafood in the grocery store or restaurants o Ask, where your seafood came from! o Try to eat locally grown seafood (Regional) o Spread the word!

Questions? Jenny Oakley

Dichotomous Key