Cons of Aquaculture

1. Cons of Aquaculture By: Megan Stransky Nancy Joyce DanoFerons Janell Johnson

2. Aquaculture Net Pens and Cages Net Pens are free flowing and nets are able to move with the current Cages are rigid structures where the nets do not move Fish runs are used so that fish are able to swim in circles to exercise muscles

3. Destruction of Natural Habitat Pristine Salt Marsh Mission Bay, California Fish Farm in place of Mangroves Mangrove Tree Grove

4. Effects on the Benthic Environment Area underneath a fish farm. The sediment here has become anoxic due to the excess addition of biological waste. Pristine Benthic Community The chart on the left shows how waste from the fish farm enters the environment and benthic sediment.

5. Aquaculture Defenses for Net Pens and cages Netting is used to prevent predatory birds from eating fish from the top of the Net Pen Underwater Anti-Predator nets are used to deter mammalian predators and diving birds. Diver is at the bottom of one of these nets. Fish are held in a separate net pen above

6. Marine Birds and Mammals who have become victims of Aquaculture

7. Fish Meal and Fish Oil Fish Meal and Oil are manufactured from sardines, anchovies, sand eels, and other fin fish To create 2.2 lbs. of fish meal, it takes 10 lbs of smaller pelagic or open water fish Reverse protein factories The ocean can not sustain the amounts of fish used by the aquaculture industry

8. Food Safety Farmed fish contain higher levels of PCB’s and dioxins than wild caught fish Farmed salmon has 10 times the level of contaminants as wild salmon Farmed fish receive large doses of antibiotics and are exposed a variety of pesticides

9. Human health risks antibiotics fungicides dyes PCB Mercury Genetically modified

10. Human Health risks • Antibiotics: • Used in aquaculture pens to control disease . • antibiotics enter the water column from nets and are ingested by wild marine life • In one study by the FDA, drug residues exceeded safe levels in wild fish around aquaculture nets. • By using antibiotics, this raises the risk of bacteria becoming resistance to antibiotics • The FDA states, “Unregulated/unapproved drugs administered to aquacultured fish pose a potential human health hazard. These substances may be carcinogenic, allergenic, and/or may cause antibiotic resistance in man.”

11. Human Health risks Fungicides: Malachite green is a fungicide used to keep fungus off the fish eggs. Malachite green is a toxin, mutagenic, and carcinogenic Malachite green is prohibited in the USA the FDA does not inspect for malachite green in imported fish. Imported fish could be contaminated and you would not know until its to late.

12. Human health risks Dyes: artificial dye is added to the meat to make it resemble the red color of wild caught salmon. The dyes are not well known on whether there are health risks a study has compared artificial dyes to hyperactivity in children and possible retinal damage.

13. Human health risks Environmental toxins: PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are highly toxic industrial compounds. Farmed salmon contain such high levels of PCB that its not recommended to eat more than one meal a month based on the EPA’s recommended exposure level. Mercury: Predatory fish such as tuna and salmon can have mercury concentrations in their bodies that exceed safely levels. It’s a huge hazard to pregnant women and small children. Mercury poisoning can cause blood pressure regulation, memory loss, tremors, vision loss and numbness of the fingers and toes.

14. Case studies on PCB’s • Based on the EPA • Children of mothers who ate fish with large amounts of PCBs from the Great Lakes had smaller head size, reduced visual recognition and delayed muscle development. • Older adults (49 to 86 years old) who ate fish containing PCBs and other contaminants had lower scores on several measures of memory and learning.

15. Genetically modified fish Genetically modified fish are being produced to enhance efficiency of fish production. Genetically modified fish grow quickly, resist disease, and can live in a large range of temperatures. These frankenfish increase economic value of producing more fish in a shorter amount of time. Genetically modified fish can lead to new allergens and reactions.

16. Socio-Economics • Threaten livelihood of fishermen, lobstermen, etc. • Expensive to start new farm • Take a long time to see profit • Banks skeptical about loans • Resource Expenses • Lack of Appropriate areas to create farms combined with public opposition

17. 800 Tons of fish died & rotted in fish farms in lake in Philippines

19. Work Cited http://www.pbs.org/emptyoceans/fts/fishmeal/viewpoints.htmlhttp://truefoodnow.org/campaigns/fish/http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-food/aquafarming.aspxhttp://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1663604,00.htmlhttp://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/human%20health%20and%20aquaculture%20fact%20sheet.pdfhttp://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/content/media/MBA_SeafoodWatch_WestCoastGuide.pdfhttp://apps.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=15904Tomasso, J. R (editor). 2002. Aquaculture and the Environment in the United States. U.S. Aquaculture Society, A chapter of the World Aquaculture Society, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.

20. Rebuttal Aquaculture is not the best alternative to overfishing

21. Aquaculture IS an Environmental Issue, still. Overfishing in the Wild We are only supposed to have 2-3 servings of fish per week due to high mercury levels Other sources of Omega-3 fatty acids: walnuts, flaxseed, and hemp Other protein sources should be encourage Only fish the amount we actually need Replant lost habitat (questions arise with corals)

22. Innovative ways to avoid bycatch Turtle Escape Doors Pingers place on nets emit beeping noise keeping porpoises, dolphins, other sea mammals away Protecting endangered fish – use seafood guide when purchasing fish in store & restaurants Fisheries respond to consumer pressures – results in healthier ocean

23. Inhumane treatment of farmed fish Farmed fish are confined to cramped and filthy enclosures being exposed to parasitic infections, diseases, and debilitating injuries

24. Effects on Marine Birds and Mammals