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K. Bostick
In many regions, fishermen will oppose aquaculture concessions in or near their
fishing grounds for a variety of reasons. Fishermen want to ensure continued access
to fishing grounds and are also concerned with the possibility of declines in wild
fish populations due to direct environmental impacts. Aquaculture production has
also been linked to an overall decline in market prices, and in some regions fishermen blame aquaculture for this decrease in the value of their catch.
The growth of any new industry, especially in rural areas, can lead to inflation
in the cost of key local goods such as food, labor, and land. This inflation can disproportionately affect poor people who are not involved with the industry.
Additionally, an increase in job opportunities can draw individuals away from traditional manual labor such as fishing or farming. While individuals then earn a full
time income, they also have less time for subsistence activities and increase
dependence on purchased food items. In many regions the aquaculture industry has
been shown to pay better wages than other comparable employers (World Bank
et al. 2002), yet in some areas, low wages, worker rights, and regional socio-economic
benefits have been called into question (Pinto and Kremerman 2005).
7.2.3 Food Safety Concerns
Food safety concerns are increasing in the aquaculture industry as new research and
some NGO activism focuses on this issue. One of these concerns is the accumulation of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the edible flesh of
farmed seafood, especially in carnivorous species. Chemical residues and the presence of hormones or antibiotics in aquaculture products is another concern, especially in cases where industry is suspected of using antibiotics or other chemicals
prophylactically. For antibiotics, there is concern related not only to residues in
product, but also to potential development of antibiotic resistance. The use and residues of chemicals that were recently banned in a number of countries, such as malachite green, are also a concern.
Today’s market is increasingly vigilant, and producers are being asked to comply with food safety standards of importing countries, chain of custody requirements to ensure the traceability of their product, and additional product quality or
safety standards for certain retailers. NGOs concerned with human health implications of aquaculture production have a receptive audience of retailers and consumers concerned with food safety.
7.3 NGO Approaches to Aquaculture
All human activities have impacts and many NGOs including conservation, human
rights, or animal welfare organizations have become involved in evaluating these
impacts. Generally this entails identifying and vocalizing concerns with those
K. Bostick
In many regions, fishermen will oppose aquaculture concessions in or near their
fishing grounds for a variety of reasons. Fishermen want to ensure continued access
to fishing grounds and are also concerned with the possibility of declines in wild
fish populations due to direct environmental impacts. Aquaculture production has
also been linked to an overall decline in market prices, and in some regions fishermen blame aquaculture for this decrease in the value of their catch.
The growth of any new industry, especially in rural areas, can lead to inflation
in the cost of key local goods such as food, labor, and land. This inflation can disproportionately affect poor people who are not involved with the industry.
Additionally, an increase in job opportunities can draw individuals away from traditional manual labor such as fishing or farming. While individuals then earn a full
time income, they also have less time for subsistence activities and increase
dependence on purchased food items. In many regions the aquaculture industry has
been shown to pay better wages than other comparable employers (World Bank
et al. 2002), yet in some areas, low wages, worker rights, and regional socio-economic
benefits have been called into question (Pinto and Kremerman 2005).
7.2.3 Food Safety Concerns
Food safety concerns are increasing in the aquaculture industry as new research and
some NGO activism focuses on this issue. One of these concerns is the accumulation of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the edible flesh of
farmed seafood, especially in carnivorous species. Chemical residues and the presence of hormones or antibiotics in aquaculture products is another concern, especially in cases where industry is suspected of using antibiotics or other chemicals
prophylactically. For antibiotics, there is concern related not only to residues in
product, but also to potential development of antibiotic resistance. The use and residues of chemicals that were recently banned in a number of countries, such as malachite green, are also a concern.
Today’s market is increasingly vigilant, and producers are being asked to comply with food safety standards of importing countries, chain of custody requirements to ensure the traceability of their product, and additional product quality or
safety standards for certain retailers. NGOs concerned with human health implications of aquaculture production have a receptive audience of retailers and consumers concerned with food safety.
7.3 NGO Approaches to Aquaculture
All human activities have impacts and many NGOs including conservation, human
rights, or animal welfare organizations have become involved in evaluating these
impacts. Generally this entails identifying and vocalizing concerns with those