[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: NFC: Fw: Aquaculture
I think the logic here is ever so slightly flawed (no offense intended). I
can understand Fisherman not wanting to become Fish Farmers, it's two
completely different lifestyles, but that does not mean that Aquaculture is
not taking off. I would guess (correct me if I am wrong) that you are
probably searching boats that are after saltwater species. As far as I know
there is little activity in the way of aquaculture for saltwater species.
Do a web search for Aquaculture, you'll get hundreds of finds (Yahoo
revealed 23 categories and 257 sites). Most, if not all, state universities
offer curriculum in Aquaculture. Aquaculture provides a significant
percentage of the fish sold in supermarkets and restaraunts, I have heard
numbers over 40% for some species (Catfish and Trout). It's true
Aquaculture will not replace natural fisheries. But for farmable fish it is
a booming industry and shows no signs of anything but significant growth.
As it continues to grow it will definitely offer pressure relief for those
species that can be farmed. Obviously it won't do anything directly for
those species that can't be farmed, but if we can replace non-farmable
fish, with farmable fish, in our diets, then it may offer some (hopefully)
indirect relief for them as well.
Ty
Relieving pressure off commercial fisheries, speaking from my position I
hold in the U.S. Coast Guard inspecting commercial fishing vessels, I can
say no... I have not encountered a single commercial fisherman in my AOR
that has converted from commercial fishing to an aquaculture based system.
Two common quotes I hear from them are (draw your own conclusions from
where their train of thought is...) "It is too technical and expensive"
and "Who would like to buy a fish that swims in its own excrements all
day". Nice logic huh? The only pressure relief is regulatory agencies and
their rulebooks.
<snip>
Aquaculture just hasn't caught on yet on (as a whole or an industry, like
American beekeeping) its not trendy or recognized like it should be. I am
all for it and can see benefits on the horizon, but in reality it will
take lots of legislation and enforcement policies to scale back commercial
fisheries harvesting to make aquaculture more viable. Then again look at
aquacultureists that bring back endangered species populations......
<snip>
Be safe and happy fish hunting....
Chris Guppenberger
"Aquaculture is a durn good thing....."