How Aquaculture Is Changing

https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2019/12/1...ility-in-world/

This link is to a Florida newspaper article on farmed fish. With the issues surrounding net pens in the PNW I thought some might find this interesting. It is the 20 month growth time and pounds produced that is most impressive financially. Then it is a closed loop system which limits environmental impacts to near zero.

https://atlanticsapphire.com/about-us

Closed loop works well if you can clean, disinfect, and cool the water. All are possible, but are costly. Consequently, a large enough operation will have economies of scale.

When I was at the UW we had a course on (primarily) Asian multi-culture systems. Insert nutrients (night soil among other things) and pass the nutrition up the food chain. The concept is out there....

I have seen some Tilapia systems that first raise the fish and then recirculate the wastewater through hydroponic plants (vegetables). Generally closed, reuses the water, and uses the nutrients.

The bottom line is that it costs. Release hatcheries could be a lot cleaner; but there goes the cost. Food-producing the same, but it will cost more for the product. Cheap, and environmentally responsible, are generally incompatible.

Yup but it is the both salt and fresh aquifers in Florida that is the situation here. Seems the company found out about the water by accident off a YOUTube video. Looking at projections of US fish consumptions and the greater understanding of commercial harvest impacts of the natural salmon they might have hit on something. It is the exercise problem that is solved by circulation that exercises the fish getting the excessive fat thing under control. That really helps quality and the no waste into the environment is solid accomplishment. Now the question is can they make it financially.

Another article and the video of the rod making kid is interesting also.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/money/atlantic-sapphire-fish-farm-us-salmon

It can work, but the economics are the key. Folks are going to have to look more critically at all aspects of aquatic resource harvesting.

We know, from centuries of experience, that the terrestrial system will not support the nutritional needs/wants of humans without resulting to some sort of controlled culture. Why the aquatic be any different?

You knew it had to happen. This will eventually take over all open net pens, especially in sensitive areas. The negative environmental argument to shut Salmon Aquaculture down is shot out the window now. The one negative element that still exists is the ocean harvest of the food for rearing.

I have read, but not followed up on, that they have been able to make a good salmonid food that does not rely on wild-caught fish. I know that Doc Donaldson, at the UW, used to use the carcasses from the returning salmon as the protein basis of the food fed his salmon and trout. There are enough meat byproducts out there that could be used.

Again, it becomes a cost. Do we spend actual money or do we let the earth absorb the cost?

I remember the "Donaldson Trout"! I fished the Cispus R. every summer for trout back in 70's, where I learned to stream fish. One year they planted a bunch of those. They were bigger than the average rainbow we would catch and a hell of a fight on a 3-4 wt. fly rod.