Sustainability

Despite being banned by the state government in 2012 and later by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, the controversial practice of “Chowri fishing” continues unabated in Karwar, Karnataka, for the past eight years. This method involves dumping tonnes of used plastic bottles into the sea to create artificial reefs for catching squids. Experts warn that aside from polluting the sea with discarded plastic, the practice has far-reaching ecological consequences, leading to an overpopulation of squids and adversely affecting other marine species.

Fisheries department officials in Karwar express helplessness in curbing the illegal activity due to a lack of human resources. Additionally, they face pressure from local politicians not to take action against violators. Skilled fishermen from Tamil Nadu reportedly hire boats with local registration numbers between September and October to engage in illegal squid fishing using overhead lights. This method is also against established rules.

The Department of Fisheries has caught some violators in the act, imposing a paltry fine of Rs 5,000, but the illegal fishing persists. Bibin Boppan, Joint Director of Karwar Fisheries Department, acknowledges the challenge, stating, “We are aware that TN fishermen are involved in such illegal fishing. We are unable to stop this as we lack the staff to conduct raids and confiscate the captured squids. Even if we arrest them, we get calls from leaders cutting across party lines to release them.”

Professor Shivakumar Haragi of Karnatak University’s Department of Marine Biology notes the shift from using casuarina trees to plastic bottles for creating artificial reefs after forest officials cracked down on cutting casuarina trees. The plastic reefs are contributing to squid breeding throughout the year, negatively impacting fish populations.

Locals reveal that visiting fishing communities purchase tonnes of plastic bottles from local scrap dealers for the illegal practice. Each artificial reef requires two sand sacks to anchor around 600 empty bottles, weighing one quintal. The bottles are left floating 15 to 20 nautical miles into the Arabian Sea to act as breeding grounds for squid. The harvested squids are sold, and the artificial reefs are abandoned in the sea. Around 150 visiting fishermen engage in Chowri fishing during the season, further highlighting the magnitude of the issue.

Source: DECCAN HERALD

The upcoming International Fisheries Congress and Expo at the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos) from January 12 will feature a dedicated session addressing the degradation of the Vembanad lake ecosystem. Urgency surrounds the issue, as highlighted by Kufos Vice-Chancellor T. Pradeepkumar, emphasizing the need to tackle the century-long decline.

A recent five-year study led by V.N. Sanjeevan and his team at the Centre for Aquatic Resources Management and Conservation at Kufos revealed an alarming 85% reduction in the lake’s water retention capacity over the past 120 years. Massive encroachments and ecosystem destruction are identified as primary factors contributing to this decline. The carrying capacity at Mean Sea Level in the lake’s south and central sectors has seen an 85.63% decrease, dropping from 2677.50 MCM in 1930 to 384.66 MCM in 2020.

The lake, once spanning 365 sq. km in 1900, has now shrunk to 206.40 sq. km, accompanied by a drastic reduction in average depth. In the south and central sectors, depths have plummeted from 8-9 meters in 1930 to 1.8 meters (Thanneermukkom to Kuttanad – 78.82% depth loss) and 2.87 meters (Thanneermukkom to Kochi Port – 66.34% depth loss). Heavy siltation and direct sediment-laden water reaching the lake, along with wetland filling, are cited as contributors to this decline.

The study also highlights a concerning drop in fish species, from 150-200 identified species in the 1950s to below 100 today. Iconic species like pearl spot, freshwater prawn, mullet, crab, anchovy, salmon, silver belly, sole fish, and shellfish are particularly affected due to silt accumulation, causing a significant decline in the fishery wealth of Kerala’s backwaters.

Vice-Chancellor Pradeepkumar believes that a combination of regulatory measures, community engagement, and sustainable practices can reverse the degradation trends and secure the future of Vembanad lake. He stresses the crucial need for collaboration among international bodies, government agencies, local communities, and environmental organizations to implement and sustain measures that will preserve the lake’s biodiversity and ecological integrity.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has initiated a global campaign emphasizing the crucial role of aquaculture in achieving sustainable development goals. The campaign aims to address food security and eliminate malnutrition through a focus on fisheries and aquaculture.

The recently unveiled Global Roadmap for Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG2) without Breaching the 1.5°C Threshold, presented at the United Nations Climate Conference COP28, outlines 120 actions and key milestones across ten domains. These domains include clean energy, crops, fisheries, and aquaculture, among others.

The FAO emphasizes the nutritional benefits of aquatic food, describing it as a “nutritional powerhouse” rich in protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and vital minerals. Recognizing the low greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint of aquatic food, the FAO encourages its role in mitigating emissions through dietary shifts.

Key recommendations from the FAO include improving the productivity of aquaculture, promoting good aquaculture practices (GAPs), enhancing technology adoption, and implementing policies for small-scale aquaculture.

In the global landscape, various countries are making strides in expanding their aquaculture initiatives:

Canada: The federal government is working on an Aquaculture Transition Plan for British Columbia, impacting 79 open-net farms and around 5,000 jobs. Legal challenges are mounted against the decision to close fish farms in the Discovery Islands.

Norway: Coastal communities hosting fish farming sites are set to receive an increased payout of NOK 1.4 billion (CAD$175 million) from the Norwegian Aquaculture Fund to support welfare and social projects.

Scotland: With an ambition to grow aquaculture production, the sector’s direct economic contribution in Scotland has increased by 154% to £472 million over a decade.

Vietnam: The government aims to achieve seven million tonnes of aquaculture production by 2030, with export revenue reaching US$12 billion per year.

Australia: Aquaculture has become Australia’s most valuable seafood industry, overtaking wild-caught fish, with a gross value of production exceeding $2 billion.

China: China is developing various forms of offshore aquaculture, with the Deep Blue 1 project being the first offshore aquaculture base for farming salmon.

Chile: The Chilean government plans to update its fisheries law to address environmental concerns and balance operational growth in the aquaculture sector.

India: Amendments in legislation aim to expand coastal aquaculture and reduce bureaucratic hurdles for small-scale farmers, supporting the livelihoods of over 28 million people.

Indonesia: Promoting tuna farming and investing in aquaculture, Indonesia aims to achieve a seafood export target of $7.6 billion in 2024.

As nations globally recognize the potential of aquaculture in sustainable development, the FAO’s campaign advocates for the industry’s integral role in addressing global challenges related to food security and malnutrition.

At the Global Fisheries Conference India 2023, Simon Feunge-Smith, Senior Fishery Officer at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), emphasized the urgent need for increased blue finance to drive innovation and development within the aquaculture sector. Amidst climate change challenges and rising demands for food security, Feunge-Smith stressed the crucial role of strategic investments and technological advancements in ensuring the sustainable growth of the aquaculture industry.

Global aquaculture is anticipated to supply 59% of the fish consumed by humans by 2030, according to Feunge-Smith. He urged for the adoption of aquaculture systems with a low carbon footprint and high nutritional value, emphasizing that technological advancements and strategic investments are vital for the sector’s sustainable growth.

Over the last 25 years, the global blue sector has undergone significant transformation, witnessing a 37% increase in per capita fish consumption and a remarkable 250% rise in aquaculture production. Asia, contributing 89% of global aquaculture production (82 million tonnes), plays a pivotal role in this growth. The aquaculture sector not only serves as a primary food supplier but also generates substantial employment, providing jobs for over 20.5 million people.

In the technical session ‘Emerging Challenges and Opportunities in Inland Aquaculture,’ experts delved into a detailed analysis, highlighting the need for collaboration and knowledge exchange among stakeholders. The session also addressed the impact of climate change on aquaculture, discussing challenges such as unprecedented rainfall, flooding of culture ponds, droughts, and increased disease incidences.

Dhaka: Standard Chartered Bangladesh and the Centre for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS) have joined forces to promote sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient aquaculture processes along the southern coast of Bangladesh. The initiative aims to enhance the availability and accessibility of high-quality fish spawn, specifically Generation 3 (G3) Rohu, for 2,000 aquaculture farmers in the region.

Under the collaboration, Standard Chartered Bangladesh and CNRS will work on establishing a robust spawn distribution network, providing training opportunities for aquaculture farmers, and enhancing linkages across the aquaculture value chain. The project will focus on distributing 30 tonnes of G3 Rohu fingerlings to selected beneficiaries, enabling 2,000 farmers to produce approximately 600 tonnes of harvestable G3 Rohu each year.

The initiative aligns with Standard Chartered’s commitment to enhancing nutrition and food security, promoting job and value creation, and empowering local actors in the aquaculture value chain. The G3 Rohu strain is expected to contribute significantly to improving lives and ensuring food and nutrition security in Bangladesh. The collaboration reflects the urgency of addressing climate risks and supporting the long-term sustainability of aquaculture systems in the country.

Naser Ezaz Bijoy, CEO of Standard Chartered Bangladesh, emphasized the importance of supporting climate-impacted farmers and ensuring food security by making fish more abundant and accessible. Mokhlesur Rahman, Executive Director at CNRS, appreciated Standard Chartered Bangladesh’s investment in supporting poor aquaculture farmers and highlighted the collaboration’s role in addressing malnutrition, reducing stunting among children, and contributing to the country’s food and nutritional security. The project’s technological advancements are expected to be scaled up across Bangladesh.

A recent report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations sheds light on the significant contribution of small-scale fisheries, constituting 40% of the global fishing catch. The study, conducted in collaboration with Duke University and WorldFish, provides a comprehensive analysis based on data from 58 countries and territories, involving 800 researchers, government officials, and consultants.

Asia emerges as a key player, contributing approximately 23 million tonnes out of the 37 million tonnes caught between 2013 and 2017. Small-scale fisheries, characterized by low-tech and low-cost family or community-level fishing along coastlines and rivers, play a crucial role in supporting livelihoods, nutrition, and especially empowering women in the region.

Contrary to previous assessments, the report suggests that the value of the small-scale fisheries sector has been underestimated. The average economic value of annual fishery landings globally from 2013 to 2017 reached almost $77.2 billion, marking a 49% increase since the first study in 2012, which utilized different sources and methods. Small-scale fisheries generated about 44% of the total economic value of fishing catches in the countries studied.

In India, the average annual landing value ranges between $1-4.3 billion, representing 10-25% of the marine catch. In comparison, the United States reported over $4.3 billion in annual landing value. The sector is a major employer, providing jobs for almost 90% of global fisheries employment, with 60.2 million people engaged along the value chain in 2016.

China leads the way with 35.5 million people involved in small-scale fishing, followed by India with 13.1 million. The report emphasizes the significance of the sector as a vital source of employment, particularly for women. Globally, an estimated 44.7 million women participate in the value chains or engage in subsistence activities related to small-scale fisheries, comprising 40% of the people involved.

The report estimates that in 2016, 113 million people were employed along the value chain or engaged in harvesting or processing for subsistence. When considering their household members, small-scale fisheries may be supporting almost half a billion people globally. Additionally, the report highlights the nutritional importance of small-scale fisheries, providing essential nutrients for millions of women in Africa and Asia.

A distressing scene unfolded in Dal Lake, Srinagar, as a substantial number of dead fish surfaced, raising alarms about the water quality in the iconic lake. Following the conclusion of a G20 meeting on tourism held on the lake’s banks, a viral video shared on social media captured a local resident expressing worry about the direct discharge of sewage into the lake, creating a negative impression on tourists.

The incident unfolded shortly after the Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) conducted an extensive operation in early May to clear algae and weeds from the lake. A subsequent investigation by the Fisheries Department of Jammu & Kashmir, in collaboration with the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), identified several factors contributing to the decline in oxygen levels, including “thermal stratification,” a rise in temperature, and reduced photosynthesis due to cloudy and rainy days.

The report also underscored the impact of additional pollutants from rain runoff, exacerbating oxygen depletion. With approximately 50,000 residents within the lake and an additional 500,000 living in its catchment area, the incident has heightened concerns about the overall health of the ecosystem. Despite ongoing efforts to collect 10 tonnes of solid waste daily from Dal Lake, questions linger about the lake’s resilience in the face of mounting pressures.

This occurrence is not an isolated event in the region, as Kashmir has witnessed several instances of mass fish mortality in recent years, attributed to various factors, including drops in oxygen levels, variations in water temperature, and elevated levels of phosphate and ammoniacal nitrate.

Irfan Rashid, a researcher at the University of Kashmir, points to “chemical contamination,” untreated sewage, and the use of electric shocks for fishing as major contributors to the escalating frequency of such incidents. The process of “eutrophication,” driven by excessive nutrient enrichment from human activities, has been identified as a significant concern affecting the water bodies in Kashmir.

Despite ongoing efforts to address pollution, including the launch of a Floating Sewage Network on Dal Lake, concerns persist about the effectiveness of sewage treatment plants and the need for more robust pollution control measures. Environmental activists emphasize the urgency of comprehensive actions to restore and conserve Dal Lake, calling attention to potential violations of environmental laws. The government’s commitment to conservation, reflected in an expenditure of INR 2.39 billion (USD 28.7 million) from 2018 to 2022, underscores the significance of addressing the challenges posed by deteriorating water quality in Dal Lake.

In response to the imminent threat of oxygen depletion in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour jeopardizing the existence of the Maugean skate, the salmon farming industry and the federal government have collaborated to initiate a groundbreaking “nano bubbles” trial. The $7 million, two-year project, jointly funded by Salmon Tasmania and the Commonwealth through the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC), is set to commence next month.

A diesel-powered generator on a specialized barge will play a pivotal role in drawing up low-oxygen water from the harbour. This water will then be enriched with highly concentrated bubbles of oxygen before being pumped back into the depths of the harbour at 30 to 40 meters. The aim is to address the critical oxygen levels and safeguard the Maugean skate population.

The trial comes in the wake of Australia’s Threatened Species Commissioner Fiona Fraser’s assertion that Macquarie Harbour’s degradation is largely attributed to salmonid aquaculture. Despite Commonwealth conservation advice recommending a significant destocking of salmon farms by this summer as the quickest solution to improve oxygen levels, the trial is proceeding instead.

Tasmanian Labor senator Anne Urquhart expressed optimism about the trial, stating that it will determine the feasibility of oxygenation in Macquarie Harbour. She emphasized the need to strike a balance between protecting the Maugean skate and sustaining a robust salmon industry that contributes to the local and state economy.

The Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) at the University of Tasmania will design the innovative system and oversee the trial, which will be executed by Salmon Tasmania. The results of the trial will be reported to both the Commonwealth and Tasmania’s Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to assess its effectiveness and potential scalability.

Notably, all three major salmon companies in Tasmania—Tassal, Petuna, and Huon Aquaculture, owned by JBS—operate within Macquarie Harbour.

“Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) Introduces Projects Funded by Walmart Foundation to Combat Aquaculture Impacts on Climate, Biodiversity, and Community Resilience”

Taking a proactive stance against the wide-ranging effects of aquaculture, the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) has revealed an innovative initiative focusing on landscape-based aquaculture. This forward-looking strategy aims to mobilize seafood buyers, processors, and farmers at a larger scale, addressing pivotal environmental and socio-economic challenges inherent in aquaculture.

Braddock Spear, the global policy director at SFP, emphasized the urgency for retailers and major seafood buyers to seek tangible solutions with positive impacts. He stressed the need to connect enhanced aquaculture production and sourcing to broader objectives, specifically targeting climate change, biodiversity preservation, and community empowerment.

SFP, with support from the Walmart Foundation, will initiate two projects within its aquaculture programs. The initial project will consolidate market demand to champion more sustainable aquaculture feed, directly confronting the substantial carbon footprint linked to shrimp and salmon aquaculture. The second project involves establishing a foundation and roadmap for landscape-scale improvement in farmed shrimp practices in Andhra Pradesh, India, in partnership with the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC).

Recognizing that aquaculture feed significantly contributes to carbon emissions, the landscape-based approach aims to engage the industry in understanding, measuring, and mitigating the environmental footprint of aquaculture feeds, with a focus on ingredients such as fishmeal, soy, and grain, which directly impact biodiversity.

Dave Martin, program director at SFP, highlighted the unprecedented opportunity to collaborate with seafood buyers and supply chains to develop initiatives around sustainable feed. The project outcome will be an industry action toolkit facilitating positive and synchronized supply chain engagement on aquaculture feed sustainability.

Presently, only around 24 percent of farmed shrimp from India carries certification. As the demand for certified products rises, there is an imminent need to address sustainability issues at the landscape level, surpassing farm-level certification. Strategies will be devised to involve smallholder farmers in enhancement and certification efforts, resulting in improved environmental outcomes and production efficiency.

SFP will collaborate with ASC and shrimp supply chains to instigate landscape-level improvements in Indian aquaculture. The primary objective is to identify farms, processors, and other stakeholders in Andhra Pradesh, ensuring verifiable progress at a jurisdictional level.

Jill Swasey, head of monitoring and evaluation at ASC, highlighted the shared commitment to promoting responsible seafood production. The partnership with SFP aims to showcase the collective positive impact by correlating on-farm enhancements with verified progress at broader landscape levels.

In April 2023, SFP and ASC formalized their collaboration through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to advance responsible aquaculture production. This agreement lays the groundwork for innovative and scalable efforts in the aquaculture improvement space.

Roy van Daatselaar, ASC Improver Programme global lead, expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with SFP on designing landscape-level improvement pathways endorsed by the market. The objective is to facilitate the sustainable transformation of the shrimp farming sector in Andhra Pradesh.

This initiative signifies a significant stride toward establishing a more sustainable and responsible aquaculture industry, effectively addressing critical challenges and fostering positive environmental and social impacts.

Shellfish enthusiasts worldwide are now harvesting more than 800 varieties of clams, oysters, mussels, and other seafood, expanding the list of recognized species exploited by humans and emphasizing the need for sustainable harvesting practices to prevent overexploitation.

In a new study published in Nature Communications, an international team of biologists and ecologists significantly increased the number of shallow-marine bivalves known to be exploited by humans for food. They added 720 species to the 81 reported in the United Nations FAO Production Database.

The research, led by scientists from the University of Birmingham and the Smithsonian Institution in the U.S., not only identifies global “hotspots” where exploited bivalves are found but also pinpoints areas with higher vulnerabilities to overexploitation. The study includes a list of species at the greatest risk.

Among the top ten at-risk species are oysters off the coasts of Malaysia and the Philippines, paper scallops from the Gulf of Mexico, and venus clams off the Atlantic coast of Central Africa.

Dr. Shan Huang, Assistant Professor of Paleobiology at the University of Birmingham, emphasized, “By identifying these species and getting them recognized around the world, responsible fishing can diversify the species that are gathered and avoid making oysters the dodos of the sea.”

Dr. Stewart Edie, Research Geologist, and Curator of Fossil Bivalvia at the Smithsonian Institution noted, “This is a bit of a wake-up call to check on how resilient clams and mussels are to both natural and human-caused environmental changes.”

Dr. Katie Collins, Curator of Benthic Molluscs at the Natural History Museum in London, stressed the importance of managing these species and the climate carefully to ensure their presence for future generations.