The current oil spill crisis in the Gulf has dealt a crushing blow to commercial fishing in the area.

Over one third of federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico are closing to commercial and recreational fishing from the BP drilling disaster, leaving the fishing industry seriously bruised.

The main alternative to traditional commercial fishing is factory fish farming — or aquaculture, which accounts for about half of global fish sales. There are a number of criticisms concerning the impact of fish farming on the environment.

Fish bred in these farms are kept in very close quarters; by some estimates, each fish has a small bathtub's worth of water to live in. Thousands of fish confined to such a tiny space leads to a vast accumulation of waste, which often damages the coastal areas where the farms are located. 

But in a typical ecosystem, instead of destroying the area, fish waste feeds and nurtures other aquatic organisms. This principal has led one scientist to transform aquaculture into more sustainable practice. Dr. Thierry Chopin, a marine biologist at the University of New Brunswick in Saint John, is doing groundbreaking work in the field of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) — a technique that seeks to recreate a natural ecosystem within fish farms. 

Instead of simply farming salmon or tilapia, IMTA farms a range of species specifically to work symbiotically within the system.

For example, Dr. Chopin raises mussels and certain types of seaweed alongside his salmon. When the salmon releases waste like nitrogen or phosphorous, the mussels filter those waste particles. All the while, the seaweed is absorbing all of the nutrients in the process.

Dr. Chopin's research has shown when the mussels and seaweed are introduced to a salmon pen, there is a 50% growth rate in both.

The process is not only more environmentally friendly; from a business perspective, it diversifies a seafood producer's product line.

"It’s diversification. Don’t put all your salmon eggs in the same basket," Dr. Chopin told Green Biz. "It’s true in agriculture. It’s also true in aquaculture."

Dr. Chopin has teamed up with Cooke Aquaculture to introduce IMTA to a number of the seafood company's salmon farms. By the end of the year, he hopes to have IMTA implemented in up to 16 of Cooke's salmon farms.

While I'll always go for the wild salmon if I have the choice, Dr. Chopin's work is an important step towards making fish farming a more attractive option as overfishing and environmental disaster threatens traditional fishing.

Be Well,

Jimmy

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