Jump to main content.

Aquaculture

To learn more about the major threats to aquatic biodiversity please select from the following:

Aquaculture production has increased greatly in partial response to the evident decline in fisheries. Aquaculture can be defined as the culture or farming of aquatic organisms. While it can be a beneficial process, certain types of aquaculture can also contribute to the degradation of natural environments. For example, it can contribute to the accidental release of non-native species, habitat conversion, pollution, as well as actually eliminate more fish than is being produced. In addition, the food supplies of other aquatic organisms including seabirds and seals can be depleted through the amount of schooling fish used to make fishmeal for aquaculture production. For example, in the salmon farming industry, fish feces and uneaten fish feed can also contribute to pollution.

In order to control fish disease during the process of aquaculture, the use of antibiotics in fish feeds has increased. Antibiotics may leave residual traces in uneaten feed and fish feces, which can become trapped in sediments in the marine environment, potentially leading to toxic conditions for some species. Antibiotic use in aquaculture also lead to the development of bacteria, which is antibiotic-resistant.

Additional Resources:

Biological Indicators | Aquatic Biodiversity | Statistical Primer

Local Navigation

Jump to main content.