Knowledge Agora

     Sustainable aquaculture and fisheries are essential for meeting global food demand while preserving marine ecosystems. Overfishing and harmful fishing practices have led to declining fish populations, making sustainable fisheries practices critical for biodiversity and long-term fish availability. Sustainable fisheries implement catch limits, selective gear, and monitoring systems to reduce bycatch and allow fish stocks to recover. Similarly, sustainable aquaculture focuses on raising fish, shellfish, and other species in controlled environments that reduce pressure on wild populations. Innovative aquaculture practices include recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, which recycle water and use species like seaweed and mussels to improve water quality by filtering excess nutrients. A key challenge in sustainable aquaculture is sourcing environmentally friendly feed alternatives to fish meal and fish oil, traditionally derived from wild fish stocks. Researchers are exploring alternative feed ingredients like algae, insects, and agricultural byproducts to reduce aquaculture’s environmental footprint. Certification programs, such as those from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), help consumers identify responsibly sourced seafood and support market demand for sustainable options. Effective regulations and community engagement are vital to ensure that aquaculture and fisheries protect marine ecosystems and provide economic benefits. By promoting sustainable practices, we can safeguard marine biodiversity and create resilient, sustainable food systems for future generation