04 October 2005

Inefficient plunder of the oceans

Fish caught with 'hi-tech' methods has a wastage rate of 80 %. This 'by-catch' of marine wildlife, including dolphins and sea turtles is 'dumped'. The 'solution' of fish farming has other down-sides: "In addition to problems with pollution and disease, for every kilogram of fishmeal fed to farmed fish, only half a kilogram of fish is produced."
via Guardian Unlimited

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Isn't it possible that fish food based on soy protein could be used to feed farmed fish? it would be a method that doesn't require fishing to sustain fish farming. www.ravingconservative.com

Anonymous said...

Even if 'farmed' fish would eat the genetically engineered soya, you still have all the pestices and anti-bio-tica (overcrowding>disease)run via the water ways into the oceans and finally into the 'wild' fish/oceans. But yes, it would be a good idea...