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Aquaculture microbiology (II)
Topic 10Ms Sherina Kamal
Problems in aquaculture
1. Parasites and diseases
2. Competing/Conflicting Interests
3. ………………
4. Growing Exotic / Mutated Species
5. Growing Genetically Modified /Transgenic Organisms (GMOs)
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Problems in aquaculture
6.Habitat Impacts
7.Inefficiency
8.Mitigation Plans for Hazards
9.Human Health …………….
10.Unexpected Environmental Harm and
Abandoned/Bankrupt Facilities
11.Water Pollution
Parasites and diseases
Parasites and diseases
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Competing/Conflicting Interests
Open water aquaculture facilities could …………………….
Areas of current significant competing economic use or public value must be eliminated for consideration for open ocean aquaculture
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Competing/Conflicting Interests
These areas include
1. fishing grounds and routes to those fishing grounds
2. vessel traffic lanes
3. military sites and areas of concern regarding …………………………
4. marine reserves and otherwise protected areas
5. areas of significant multiple …………….
Competing/Conflicting Interests
Escapement
Offshore aquaculture of finfish uses cages or pens These containers, even if well engineered way out sign and
built will allow some fish escapes into the open ocean, due to
various complications like severe weather, equipment failure or ………………….
In the case of net pens, predators may tear the ……………….. can affect native populations through disease and dilution of
locally adaptive gene complexes, disrupt natural ecosystems and jeopardize the recovery of depleted or endangered species
consequences could be widespread and …………………..
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Growing Exotic / Mutated Species Several problems are associated with
aquaculture production of non-native species
the use of local species in aquaculture presents less ………………………
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Growing Exotic / Mutated Species
These “new” species may: invade local areas breed with or overtake natural populations
through escapement causing widespread environmental
concerns
Growing Genetically Modified /Transgenic Organisms (GMOs) Farm raised fish are bred for profit those that have certain marketable traits are
the most desirable Selecting and only breeding fish with
advantageous characteristics (e.g. largest and fastest growers) is one means to alter genetic …………………
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Growing Genetically Modified /Transgenic Organisms (GMOs) In some instances, direct genetic manipulation occurs
in a lab, to change For example: appearance and breeding abilities
In either of these circumstances, the outcome produces a genetically different fish than those found in the wild
Similar to problems associated with culture of exotic and mutated species proposed farming of GMOs raises concerns that
through escapement the constitution of the ecosystem may be altered unknown health concerns to the consumer
Habitat Impacts
Aquaculture requires construction of appropriate facilities In some areas could include severe habitat
impacts Dredging, drilling and other sediment and
bottom habitat disturbances can cause displacement of ocean wildlife and
other potentially significant ecological changes
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Habitat Impacts
In one famous example in Asia and Latin
America, mangrove forests have been cleared to make space for shrimp farms
Inefficiency
Cultured species are fed wild species This is an inefficient use of wild fish There are particular concerns that
aquaculture operations may increasingly rely on natural food sources, such as krill, squid and other small coastal ………………
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Inefficiency
These lower trophic level species are a crucial part of the marine ecosystem serving as prey for marine mammals, birds
and fish Many commercially and recreationally
important fish species depend directly on the availability and abundance of such prey species for their survival and recovery
Wild fish populations can only recover if the ecosystem upon which they depend is intact
Mitigation Plans for Hazards
A number of threats to wildlife and the environment can come from open water aquaculture
A facility should be prepared to address emergency situations especially where immediate containment or
clean-up are necessary
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Mitigation Plans for Hazards
Permits should only be provided once the applicant develops and submits a plan to mitigate potential harms due to unexpected circumstances, including:
escapement of fish chemical pollution …………………
Human Health Concerns
Studies indicate that farm-raised fish contain higher levels of chemical pollutants than wild fish: PCBs which are known carcinogens
This is due to higher concentrations in the fish feed
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Human Health Concerns
Antibiotics are also a problem with farm-raised fish effecting consumers directly developing super strains of bacteria that
are resistant to antibiotics making diseases less treatable making diseases perpetuates the cycle
of increased antibiotic use
Unexpected Environmental Harm and Abandoned/Bankrupt Facilities Open-ocean aquaculture depends on various
factors weather ……………… disease control human precision
Some of these are not controllable
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Unexpected Environmental Harm and Abandoned/Bankrupt Facilities
facility is damaged by any number of unplanned events causing a major escape or significant chemical
pollution Remedying such situations requires
significant monetary resources that might not be available from the company at the time of the occurrence
Water Pollution
Water flowing out of an aquaculture facility can carry excessive nutrients, particulates, rusted drain pipe bacteria, other diseased organisms and polluting chemicals
These may harm surrounding habitats cause algal blooms poison ocean wildlife Feed and fecal matter from aquaculture
facilities can deplete the dissolved oxygen concentrations within and around the site
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Water Pollution
excess food feces cage materials antibiotics/other
cleaning/algal growth prohibiting chemicals
Water Pollution
Since different fish have varying tolerances to dissolved oxygen levels
the wastewater being discharged from an aquaculture operation may have large impacts outside the facility long before a problem is detected within
Anti-fouling agents used to keep cages/pens clean are highly toxic
Water Pollution
For example, the common anti-fouling agent butyltin (specifically tributyltin) has been linked to reproductive problems in gastropod mollusks (i.e. whelks and abalone) and is suspected to cause immune suppression in marine mammals including ……………………………………..
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