Aquaculture

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Seaweed Species (Image Credit: Orla-Peach Power)

With growing pressures on global fisheries to provide more and more product than is readily available, the aquaculture or mariculture industry has become more and more prominent in recent years. Between 2002 and 2012, the farming of finfish and shellfish has been expanding at a rate of 6.1% annually, with the global industry having an estimated value of $137.7 billion (FAO, 2002). Algal mariculture is also increasing. As of 2016, Irish aquaculture’s productivity increased to a value of   €167 million (BIM, 2017). This increase allows for human demand not to be limited by ocean productivity.

However, there are many constraints placed upon aquaculture that can become issues for the coastal communities involved in aquaculture production.

These constraints and issues include:

The Need for space Complexity of life-cycles Spread of Disease
Eutrophication (Algal Blooms) Algal Mariculture Public Perception
Farmed Escapees

 

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