Fish farming
Antibiotics and pesticides that are used to treat the water may have
Why do we need fish farming?
Increased demand for fish as a good source of protein
Overfishing affecting the population of fish and endangering
species.
Types of sea food farmed catfish, trout, tilapia, bass, salmon,
shrimp and lobster.
Methods
Fish farming can be done in freshwater or saltwater using an existing
water body or in a man-made structure. Some of them include;
Fish ponds
Fish pens and fish cages
Advantages
1. Reliable food source. Fish is a source of protein, essential oils,
vitamins and minerals.
2. Specific species can be farmed depending on demand.
3. The diet, water quality, oxygen, temperature, disease can be
controlled to guarantee quality.
4. Can be established anywhere with a clean water source. Supports
the economy by creating jobs and utilizing natural resources.
5. Does not require boats. Easier to catch the fish. Convenient and
efficient.
6. Protect endangered species of fish.
Disadvantages
1. Crowding together many fish can lead to accumulated waste
products, toxic substances, dead fish etc which can be harmful for
the fish and could contaminate surrounding water.
2.
negative consequences in an aquatic ecosystem.
3. Water pollution caused by sewage and industrial/agricultural run
off can taint the fish, adding toxic substances such as mercury in
fish.
4. Decomposers in the cages/tanks/ponds may affect the amount of
minerals in the water leading to eutrophication and reduce the
oxygen concentration in the water.
(solution: control the amount put in, dont over ferlilize)
5. Multiple species in the same cages/tanks/ponds can cause of
intraspecific and interspecific competition and predation. (solution
: Place different species in different ponds, tanks, etc.. )
6. Fish may escape and out-compete or interbreed with local species
reducing biodiversity and/or upsetting the local ecosystem.
Eutrophication
Over enrichment of a body of water, this causes a rapid algal
population growth called an algal bloom. When the algae die and
decay, oxygen is consumed, causing fish death.
For example, detergents and fertilizers used in fields can affect a lake
ecosystem by stimulating plant and algae overgrowth. A buildup of
algae, such as the one shown in, can drastically lower the levels of
dissolved oxygen, leading to the dying off of fish populations. A lack
of oxygen can also keep decomposers from breaking down waste
materials
In the mid-1970s, Lake Erie was dying because of eutrophication.
Control of nutrient phosphates, particularly in sewage effluent and
household detergents, reversed the situation.