Staple Fish Aquaculture

1001 Words5 Pages

Introduction
In 4,000 B.C. when our ancestors foraged far and wide for fish and other aquatic species, they needed a way to trap and contain their food in preparation for future consumption, thus introducing the earliest forms of aquaculture, according to an aquaculture overview by the European Commission, the legislative body of the European Union (“A Short History”, 2016). 6,000 years later, the definition of aquaculture has remained relatively the same, but some conditions of the world have drastically changed. To keep on par with an exponentially increasing world population and limited food sources, aquaculture has been heavily invested in for the past 30 years, and production has only exponentially increased in since the mid-1970s, according …show more content…

Over 50% of a human’s animal protein comes from fish, according to a Food and Agriculture Organization, a specialized United Nations agency, newsroom story in 2005 (“Many of the World's Poorest People Depend on Fish”, 2005). According to Malcolm Beveridge, previous acting head branch of the aquaculture branch of the FAO, developing nations and rural populations who experience food insecurity have a larger reliance on fish for protein and basic living (Beveridge et. al, 2013). The act of fishing is also cherished by many cultures as well, as it can act not only as a pastime, but also a way of survival during at-risk periods according to Christophe Béné, a research fellow at the Institute of Development studies who has researched poverty and urbanization (Béné et. al, 2007). However, the current conditions of aquatic capture through aquaculture prevent the aforementioned populations from exercising their independence to fish. While this fact emphasizes the necessity of small-scale fisheries, their current significance is severely swept under the rug in favor of acknowledging large-scale fisheries (Béné et. al, 2007). The issue as to how the original intent of aquaculture, which was to provide poorer developing nations and poorer populations easier access to a source of nutrition and protein, alleviating poverty, and providing food security, can be fulfilled arises when …show more content…

First, there are poorer populations who, although have gained jobs and food through the aquaculture as a system, are still facing ignorance from their respective national governments (FAO, 2010). The combination of the explosive growth of aquaculture and the developing nations’ lack of resources to develop small, inland fisheries has harmed poorer populations as well (FAO, 2010). An FAO report states that most of these poorer people engage in fishing purely to have a source of nutrition and income, demonstrating that fishing is crucial for their livelihoods (“Cultural Characteristics of Small-Scale Fishing Communities”, n.d.). There is a sense of pride and tradition that arises with owning a fish farm. Removing this mere source of subsistence that covers nearly, for example, a fisherman’s entire life is socially unethical. In fact, rich aquaculturists in rich or poor nations mainly focus on fishing as a form of entertainment, which is not pressing as ensuring food security (FAO, 2010). The aforementioned materialized in central Mexico, where the government introduced carp into lakes in 1978 in an effort to provide protein and nutrition to poorer populations (Tapia et. al 2003). Tapia was the President for Strategic Planning and Regional Development in Mexico at the time, demonstrating her connection to the plan of implementation. The carp implementation program was largely unsuccessful for various ecological and social

More about Staple Fish Aquaculture

Open Document