Dear all,
thank you for your invitation to take part in the discussion. Please, have in mind that aquaculture is one of the most important food production systems in our times.
While the global demand of fish increases, the fish supply from fisheries stagnates. Since the 1970s global aquaculture production is growing and today it is a fundamental part of the supply of fish to the world´s population. However, an increase of the aquaculture production is often accompanied by environmental problems based on current production methods: sedimentation, change in bio-geochemistry, pathogen transmission, inter-breeding with wild organisms, introduction of alien species, and indirect ecosystem pressures such as high energy costs are critical points of current aquaculture production methods. The intensification of aquaculture in recent decades has led to increased interference in ecosystems and a greater need for resources such as energy and food. So today aquaculture faces great challenges to meet the global demand for aquatic products in the future while minimizing the environmental impact. One possibility to overcome these challenges can be seen in an ecological modernization of the aquaculture sector. In consequence, it’s important to develop concepts for an environmentally, economically and social sustainable aquaculture development.
Kind regards
Gesine Behrens
Thünen-Institut für Seefischerei - AG Fischereiökonomie
Palmaille 9
22767 Hamburg (Germany)
Tobias Lasner and Gesine Behrens