Isn’t there enough fish in the wild?
Wild fish stocks are currently fished to their limits and overfishing has resulted in declining numbers of wild fish e.g. Pacific salmon and Atlantic cod. Consumption of farmed fish may help to decrease the need to harvest stocks of wild fish.
On a global basis, fish are the primary source of animal protein in human diets. Aquaculture accounts for more than 50% of the world’s fish consumption.
Fish feeding Fish
One of the controversies facing the aquaculture industry is the use of fishmeal and oil, made from wild fish, for feed. Globally, aquaculture uses about half a metric ton of wild whole fish combined with other nutrient sources to produce one metric ton of farmed seafood. Partnerships with industry, government and universities are working on new sources of plant-based proteins and oils for fish feeds.