Prioritization of knowledge needs for sustainable aquaculture: a national and global perspective

In recent decades, aquaculture nutrition research has made major strides in identifying alternatives to the use of traditional marine‐origin resources. Feed manufacturers worldwide have used this information to replace increasing amounts of fish meal and fish oil in aquafeeds. However, reliance on marine resources remains an ongoing constraint, and the progress yielded by continued unidimensional research into alternative raw materials is becoming increasingly marginal. Feed formulation is not an exercise in identifying “substitutes” or “alternatives” but rather is a process of identifying different combinations of “complementary” raw materials—including fish meal, fish oil, and others—that collectively meet established nutrient requirements and other criteria for the aquafeed in question. Nutrient‐based formulation is the day‐to‐day reality of formulating industrially compounded aquafeeds, but this approach is less formally and explicitly addressed in aquaculture research and training programs. Here, we (re)introduce these topics and explore the reasons that marine‐origin ingredients have long been considered the “gold standards” of aquafeed formulation. We highlight a number of ways in which this approach is flawed and constrains innovation before delving into the need to assess raw materials based on their influence on aquafeed manufacturing techniques. We conclude with a brief commentary regarding the future funding and research landscape. Incremental progress may continue through the accumulation of small insights, but a more holistic research strategy—aligned with industry needs and focused on nutrient composition and ingredient complementarity—is what will spur future advancement in aquaculture nutrition.

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“…; Jones et al. ). These criticisms are largely based on the seemingly illogical use of one type of fish to produce another.…”

Section: Fish Meal and Fish Oil: The “Gold Standards” In Aquafeed Formentioning

confidence: 98%

Thoughts for the Future of Aquaculture Nutrition: Realigning Perspectives to Reflect Contemporary Issues Related to Judicious Use of Marine Resources in Aquafeeds

Trushenski²,

2018

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“…Environmental pressures from salmon farming are recognised as key sustainability issues for its future in Scotland and elsewhere (Jones et al, 2015). Although the different environmental pressures have each attracted considerable research attention and discussion, consensus is often lacking as to whether they do result in environmental impacts (Forster, 2010).…”

Section: Reducing Resource Inputs and Environmental Pressuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trends during development of Scottish salmon farming: An example of sustainable intensification?

et al. 2016

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Commercial farming of Atlantic salmon in Scotland started in 1969 and has since expanded to produce N 179,000 t year −1 . A government department has published annual statistics and information on the seawater and freshwater sub-sectors of the Scottish salmon farming industry since 1979, and this review collates and dis cusses metrics covering aspects of production, farm sites and systems, fish performance, socio-economics and en vironmental pressures. Trends illustrated in this case study of aquaculture development include: initial increases in numbers of farms and companies, followed by decreases due to industry consolidation; increases in average farm size, and productivity of systems and employees; increases in survival, size at age and productivity of fish (yield per smolt, ova per broodstock); reduced dependence on wild stocks for ova. This case study also illustrates the importance of disease management, control of biological processes to overcome natural seasonality (i.e. pro duction of out-of-season smolt), and the international nature of aquaculture. Improvements in fish survival, growth and productivity are attributed to progress in vaccination and health management (including fallowing), husbandry, system design, feed formulation and provision, and introduction of technology and mechanisation. Salmon farming is discussed in relation to the challenging strategy of "sustainable intensification". Improved growth and survival over a period of increasing rearing unit size, farm size and output and decreasing relative staff input counters the common assumption that intensification compromises animal welfare. The value of cap turing time series data on industry wide metrics is illustrated as it enables identification of trends, underperformance and bench-marking, as well as assessment of resource use efficiency, environmental pres sures, and ultimately sustainability. Statement of relevance: This review is an original collation of a comprehensive set of time series of official statistics on an entire, discrete and regionally important sector of commercial aquaculture.Crown

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“…As a guide, participants were provided with example knowledge‐needs developed through a comparable exercise that had focused improving the environmental sustainability of aquaculture for the UK food system (Jones et al . ). Knowledge‐needs with a similar theme were grouped by MJK and scrutinized by the expert task force.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Prioritization of knowledge‐needs to achieve best practices for bottom trawling in relation to seabed habitats

et al. 2015

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Management and technical approaches that achieve a sustainable level of fish production while at the same time minimizing or limiting the wider ecological effects caused through fishing gear contact with the seabed might be considered to be 'best practice'. To identify future knowledge-needs that would help to support a transition towards the adoption of best practices for trawling, a prioritization exercise was undertaken with a group of 39 practitioners from the seafood industry and management, and 13 research scientists who have an active research interest in bottom-trawl and dredge fisheries. A list of 108 knowledge-needs related to trawl and dredge fisheries was developed in conjunction with an 'expert task force'. The long list was further refined through a three stage process of voting and scoring, including discussions of each knowledge-need. The top 25 knowledge-needs are presented, as scored separately by practitioners and scientists. There was considerable consistency in the priorities identified by these two groups. The top priority knowledge-need to improve current understanding on the distribution and extent of different habitat types also reinforced the concomitant need for the provision and access to data on the spatial and temporal distribution of all forms of towed bottom-fishing activities. Many of the other top 25 knowledge-needs concerned the evaluation of different management approaches or implementation of different fishing practices, particularly those that explore trade-offs between effects of bottom trawling on biodiversity and ecosystem services and the benefits of fish production as food.

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Prioritization of knowledge needs for sustainable aquaculture: a national and global perspective

Cited by 60 publications

References 53 publications

Thoughts for the Future of Aquaculture Nutrition: Realigning Perspectives to Reflect Contemporary Issues Related to Judicious Use of Marine Resources in Aquafeeds

Thoughts for the Future of Aquaculture Nutrition: Realigning Perspectives to Reflect Contemporary Issues Related to Judicious Use of Marine Resources in Aquafeeds

Trends during development of Scottish salmon farming: An example of sustainable intensification?

Prioritization of knowledge‐needs to achieve best practices for bottom trawling in relation to seabed habitats

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