Interactions between Aquaculture and Fisheries

Aquaculture is increasingly interacting with fisheries from a socio-economic and resource use perspective at the level of the global food market and through its dependence from fishmeal and fish oil. The relevance of the interactions between the two sectors is becoming more evident as the process of transition from fishing to farming has reached a pivotal point, with almost 50% of the fish food supply now coming from aquaculture. Cases of horizontal integration are becoming more common both at company and industrial district level. The analyses on aquaculture and fisheries interactions often result in diverging views. In this paper we review the main positions in the recent scientific literature, structuring the discussion along the following themes: food market interactions; comparison of resources use using Life Cycle Assessment; use of fishmeal and fish oil and feed markets; impacts on fish stocks; food security; technical substitution with alternative ingredients in feed formulations. The review is not aimed at taking a definitive position in respect of these complex issues but rather at summarising the different scientific contributions and indicating possible areas for further research. Research on fisheries and aquaculture interactions is considered beneficial in terms of policy support especially now that the reform of European Common Fishery Policy is assigning greater relevance to the growth of aquaculture and its contributions in terms of socio-economic development in coastal and rural communities. In a more global perspective, the understanding of interactions between aquaculture and fisheries is important to evaluate the respective contributions to food security goals and the implications in terms of sustainability and resource use efficiency.

NATALE Fabrizio;  HOFHERR Johann;  FIORE Gianluca;  VIRTANEN Jarno; 

2012-12-13

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

JRC70119

0308-597X,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC70119,   

10.1016/j.marpol.2012.05.037,