10 Status and Future Perspectives in Aquaculture
313
Another possible scenario is that of a major environmental accident in the sea,
such as a dramatic coastal nuclear power plant or an atomic submarine accident,
which may result in high contamination levels of major fish stocks on a regional
scale. This may result in both reduced fisheries for human consumption, enhanced
prices for seafood, and reduced resources for feed. This is a problem that cannot
easily be managed and counteracted; it is presumably only time that can mitigate
the negative effects of this problem. A severe contamination problem can seriously
affect the perception of seafood in the public, including that in regions that are not
directly, only emotionally, affected. In all events, some countries, and perhaps also
larger regions, will suffer for long a time. The effect will, however, hardly become
global for an extended time.
There are many other unpredicted events that may harm a single group of producers or a country, but never have a global scale. This may typically include trade
embargoes, legislation to protect own markets, and negative public relations on a
product or a practice. The latter type of problems can easily be amplified by competing industries throwing so-called adverse public relations campaigns or a package of
negative rumours brought to and distributed by the press. This may be done to push
the negative perception of a product even further, and such activities can be initiated
without any foregoing event of negative public concern. It is also important to mention
that all industries appear to use these questionable methods, including the mariculture
industry, if they see an immediate benefit. It is important, however, that these types
of driving factors do not affect mariculture development on a global scale.
10.5 Technological State and Developments of Mariculture
– A Basis for Innovation
The history of aquaculture goes back more than 2,500 years, when common carp was
produced in freshwater pond systems, which remained the main technology for rearing
of aquatic organisms up to our times. Pond systems are still being used worldwide
both for marine and freshwater aquaculture. The main technological concepts used
for mariculture after 1960 are quite diverse. Some main concepts are as follows:
●
Net-cage systems – floating structures suspending nets, maintained in open
waters, used primarily for fish
●
Rope structures – long line, floating structures of different design, maintained in
open waters, used for mussels and seaweed
●
Land- or seashore-based systems with flow through water or water recycling
(RAS; Recycling Aquaculture Systems) and optional control of waste emissions,
mainly used for high valued fish, but applicable for most types of organisms
●
Ponds or concrete dams, sometimes with reuse of water, used for crustaceans
and fish, but also other types of organisms
●
Sea-ranching with controlled production and stocking of juveniles, used for all
types of organisms
According to our view, some of these methods have greater future potentials than
other, but cultural factors as well as availability of technology will affect our
313
Another possible scenario is that of a major environmental accident in the sea,
such as a dramatic coastal nuclear power plant or an atomic submarine accident,
which may result in high contamination levels of major fish stocks on a regional
scale. This may result in both reduced fisheries for human consumption, enhanced
prices for seafood, and reduced resources for feed. This is a problem that cannot
easily be managed and counteracted; it is presumably only time that can mitigate
the negative effects of this problem. A severe contamination problem can seriously
affect the perception of seafood in the public, including that in regions that are not
directly, only emotionally, affected. In all events, some countries, and perhaps also
larger regions, will suffer for long a time. The effect will, however, hardly become
global for an extended time.
There are many other unpredicted events that may harm a single group of producers or a country, but never have a global scale. This may typically include trade
embargoes, legislation to protect own markets, and negative public relations on a
product or a practice. The latter type of problems can easily be amplified by competing industries throwing so-called adverse public relations campaigns or a package of
negative rumours brought to and distributed by the press. This may be done to push
the negative perception of a product even further, and such activities can be initiated
without any foregoing event of negative public concern. It is also important to mention
that all industries appear to use these questionable methods, including the mariculture
industry, if they see an immediate benefit. It is important, however, that these types
of driving factors do not affect mariculture development on a global scale.
10.5 Technological State and Developments of Mariculture
– A Basis for Innovation
The history of aquaculture goes back more than 2,500 years, when common carp was
produced in freshwater pond systems, which remained the main technology for rearing
of aquatic organisms up to our times. Pond systems are still being used worldwide
both for marine and freshwater aquaculture. The main technological concepts used
for mariculture after 1960 are quite diverse. Some main concepts are as follows:
●
Net-cage systems – floating structures suspending nets, maintained in open
waters, used primarily for fish
●
Rope structures – long line, floating structures of different design, maintained in
open waters, used for mussels and seaweed
●
Land- or seashore-based systems with flow through water or water recycling
(RAS; Recycling Aquaculture Systems) and optional control of waste emissions,
mainly used for high valued fish, but applicable for most types of organisms
●
Ponds or concrete dams, sometimes with reuse of water, used for crustaceans
and fish, but also other types of organisms
●
Sea-ranching with controlled production and stocking of juveniles, used for all
types of organisms
According to our view, some of these methods have greater future potentials than
other, but cultural factors as well as availability of technology will affect our