Fish Farming

Source: https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/reports/fishy-farms/

WHAT IS A FISH FARM?

Fish Farming is a type of aquaculture which is a form of raising fish in tanks in and outside the water. In this report it writes, "...the U.S. government continues to subsidize the development of open ocean aquaculture, a type of factory farming that threatens the health of our oceans, coastal communities and consumers . Factory fish farming involves the production of as many as tens of thousands of fish in cages off the coastline. (1)  Meaning even though it is legal, it still is very harmful to the environment and to us the consumers.





Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulucJnxT7B4 
Content: http://www.seafoodwatch.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/sfw_gear.aspx

This video is a scene from the very popular movie "Finding Nemo" that very kindly shows us an example of what trawling is. There is mid-water trawling and bottom trawling. It simply is type of fishing net that boats drag at the bottom of the sea mostly used to catch shrimp and/or other fish like halibut. Unfortunately they are harmful for the reason being that it increases bycatch meaning unwanted fish and it also destroys anything in its path. This clip gives us an example of bycatch because of Dory' she gets caught along with the other fish. To improve this the gear can be modified so it will be less harmful or harmless to be secure.






Source: http://oceana.org/en/our-work/stop-ocean-pollution/aquaculture/learn-act/infographic-fish-farming

This is an image explaining how the different ways of farming different fish are used in land and ocean water. It describes how each method is used and how aquaculture is sustainable.

           Figure A: offshore ponds; they are sustainable and don’t pollute the marine environment, commonly used to raise catfish and tilapia. 

          Figure B: Salmon Pens (Chile, Norway, British Colombia); they are open water,   located in cold areas but unfortunately can dispose pollution and disease.

          Figure C: Seaweed Flats (also known as seaweed farming commonly in the Philippines); they are floating rafts that help capture and helps protect the ecosystem. 

         Figure D: Spotter Planes; these are planes that help spot large schools of fish and then let the boats know where to round up the nets, common for blue fin tuna later taken to offshore pens just like the salmon. 

        Figure E: Shellfish Cultivation; oysters and mussels are cultivated this way by attaching themselves in the ropes and all it needs is water filtration/ low energy needs. 

       Figure F: The wave of the future; these are free-floating spheres that can be moved from place to place which reduces fish waste pollution and making it possible for underwater pens.

Source: http://www.speakupforblue.com/ocean-solutions/predator-resistant-aquaculture

This is an image where it specifically focuses on the negative effects aquaculture can have as a fish farm. It has more disadvantages than advantages. Fish are being caught to feed the farmed fish. drugs and pesticides are being released into the ocean. In these crowded pens they have a higher chance in releasing diseases and parasites. Their waste and extra food are left underwater in one place causing it to be even more harmful. The natural behaviors of predators can be altered. Lastly, the escaped fish can spread some of the infections and possibly prey and breed on wild fish which alters the population in the sea. 

Source: http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-food/factory-farming/fish/aquafarming/ - content

http://www.salmonfarmsireland.com/search?updated-max=2013-11-25T04:37:00-08:00&max-results=10 -image

According to Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), forty percent of the fish we consume are raised in aqua farms. Due to crowded farms, the fish have been killed by each other and their protective scales are being scraped off because of the cages/nets which exposes the poor fish to diseases and parasite infestation. one common parasite is known as fish lice called Argulus (bottom image). Lice often eats to the bone of the face of the fish. All this can spread throughout the surrounding area of the sea and duplicating lice up to thousands. Not only does disease kill so does the slaughter people cause. Forty percent also die before they are slaughtered and those who survive are starved, gills get cut causing them to bleed to death, and while still conscious they are left in ice cut open causing even more pain.

Source: http://youtu.be/7PIDQNDr-yY http://oceana.org

This video can represent the overall idea of what the problem in over fishing causes extinction, how pollution is spread throughout, and how all of it can be resolved. It gives wonderful content of ocean life and some disappointing truths about what we are causing. Oceana is an organization that is out there to help restore life in the sea and make it healthier and alive for future generations. Not only are they wildly caught but now are being raised by people known as aquaculture or fish farming. They offer solutions to the problem.