Marine aquaculture

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It is estimated that by 2050 aquaculture or aquaculture will surpass traditional fishing as a source of protein for humanity. We remind you that we are talking about the objective of aquaculture is the cultivation of aquatic organisms both in inland areas or coastal spaces where intervention in the breeding process is involved to increase their production.

According to the FAO, the amount of protein obtained from fishing has been decreasing for decades, while slowly marine aquaculture is gaining ground. To compare the evolution between traditional fishing and aquatic species that are currently cultivated around the world, we provide a graph of interest:

Evolution of world aquatic production (aquaculture and fishing) in the period from 1950 to 2015

This happens because man is transforming the oceans in the same way that the earth has changed thousands of years ago: he is changing from a hunter-gatherer to a breeder. The difference is that the mainland is a limited source of wild animals; while the sea maintains a constant amount of fish so they need to raise fish to correct the lack of food from the sea.

Where was aquaculture born?

The practice is ancient, the first organized fish farmers would have been the Chinese, 2,000 years BC. The first domesticated species was the carp (Cyprinus carpio), as evidenced by the treaty of 473 a.C., The classic culture of fish, by the Chinese politician Fan Li, turned into a breeder. The fish to be raised were naturally caught and fattened in ponds or artificial lakes; It was not true domestication, since the most difficult part, fertilization, was done naturally. It was in 1733 that a German breeder managed to collect trout eggs, fertilized them and thus began a crop similar to terrestrial species.

With time and the needs to feed the population, diversification of crops where the main species of fish and molluscs that are raised in aquaculture are nowadays; Mussels, Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, Japanese oyster, gilthead bream, common carp, sea bass, Japanese clam, turbot, catfish.

Advantages of aquaculture

It must be clear that the objective of this type of crop is to feed the world population that is growing and therefore, the demand for food increases, being that the fish of the sea are not able to regenerate as fast as they are caught and consume. This is the main advantage of aquaculture so as not to damage marine ecosystems (even if they disappear) and to unbalance Sea habitats. From here, it provides other benefits such as:

-The traceability of the fish produced can be verified and exactly where it comes from.
-Reduce the pressure on the fishing of endangered species.
-The population's diet is improved.
-Create a new business economy that in most cases is local.
-New job positions.

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Aquaculture is undoubtedly one of the new alternatives for food in the future. You have to support it in any way.

Thanks so much for reading.