Farmed fish and shellfish is becoming increasingly common in our supermarkets, but did you know that global aquaculture production has now overtaken beef production? In this short article, Professor Kenny Black of the Scottish Association for Marine Science gives us an overview of the environmental impacts of this huge industry. It's not all doom and gloom though. For example, he explores the role of genetically modified seeds to provide an alternative food-source for many aquaculture species that currently rely on dwindling wild-fish populations.
Ultimately, Black says, we will need aquaculture to feed our growing human population. It has a lower carbon footprint than some of our intensively farmed beef, but the problem of feeding carnivorous fish like salmon from wild-caught fish may remain a substantial issue. The solution? Lets start eating sea cucumbers.