Term Paper on Sea Farming
Sea farming is a rapidly growing industry all over the world. At present every
coastal country is either involved or tries to involve in sea farming. Sea
farming is exhibiting the 10% of worldwide annual growth rate. Sea farming is
actually the art of farming and cultivating fish, seaweed and some other aquatic
animals under controlled conditions. Sea farming is the major industry in many
parts of the world and an important source of generating revenues for the
country.
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Why do we need to farm the sea?
At present the world fishing catch has reached a peak of around 90 million
metric tons per annum and this has not changed for over a decade. The population
of the world is growing with a rapid speed, this growth with population coupled
with the growing demand for fish, has led the world to the need of sea farming.
Fish farming has been practiced for thousands of years in the Far East, but was
done with extensive production conditions. Under the intensive production
conditions, the farmer can get more than 150 metric tons per hectare of pond
area. This yield can be exceeded up to five times of this figure by applying
some special water oxygenation devices. This controlled fish farming is only
possible if all the proper conditions for intensive sea farming are met. These
proper conditions include specially designed tanks or ponds which are equipped
with the filters used to remove the waste products, increased oxygen supply for
the fish, availability of healthy fish for stocking, suitable food for the fish
which is necessary at different stages of growth, ability to monitor the quality
and condition of the water and the health of the farmed fish during production
cycle. The ideal site for a fish farm has moving water with maximum current of
approximately 1.25 to 1.75 knots. The ideal depth range could be from 60 feet to
125 feet and the ideal variation could be from 3 to 14 feet.
The products of Sea Farming:
Sea Farming can yield many products. The main aquaculture products include fish
like, trout, salmon, sea bass, sea bream; other aquatic animals like shrimp,
crabs, lobsters, mussels, oysters and clams etc. and the seaweed.
In 2000, these products of sea farming amounted to 1,315,000 tons in volume for
a value of 2,500 million euros for the European Union alone representing 17% of
the volume and 27% of the value of the total European Union fisheries
production.
Seaweeds
The oceans contain approximately 2500 varieties of marine plants. Seaweeds have
many uses, it has even used for the production of explosives in the First World
War era. Nowadays, its most extensive use is as fertilizers, it is also used
for stabilizer, thickener, binder for ice cream, chocolate milk, aspirin etc.
Seaweed is best known for the high amount of iodine in it. It contains 62,000
mcg of iodine per hundred grams. There is some seaweed, which is highly
nutritious and has been used as an important staple in the diet. Seaweed is
harvested in many countries. Off the coast of California giant kelp is harvested
and marketed mainly for livestock feed. The sea farming for the seaweed has a
great future because of the vast unlimited acreage of kelp beds in the ocean.
One acre can yield 60 tons of seaweed. Seaweed is marketed in many forms. In
powder form it is used as nutritious salt, which is used in place of salads,
soups, tomato juice etc.
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Problems in Sea Farming
The research has told us that the red meat is injurious for our health and the
fish eaters are helping to ensure themselves a long life. Sea farming has the
potential to satisfy the growing demands of fish for both developed and
undeveloped markets. On the other hand researchers also pointed out that; sea
farming is hazardous for our environment as the sea farmers already over-fishing
the oceans.
The sea farming makes it possible for a common person to have the food, which
was a luxury for him in the past. The emerging markets have tremendous
opportunities for them because in a globalized world the same product can find
themselves in just about any market worldwide. According to the economists, a
company, which is selling low-cost product for the market, would find that their
image is damaged in the western or in the developed markets because of the
presence of separate fish farms, which are producing fish in optimal conditions.
This is a real problem for many organizations and they have pulled themselves
out from the market because it is not possible for them to sell in a competitive
market where standards are much lower.
Advancements in Sea Farming
With new advancements in the technology of Sea farming, the farmers adopted new
ways to increase their profits. According to a recent development it has been
proved that in trout and perch, females are the preferred sex. The females grow
much faster and bigger than males do. The female are also less aggressive than
the males. It is also learned that the males of some species become sexually
mature early and develop some characteristics, which lower their market value.
Hence the farmers involved in trout and perch farming preferred to have an all
female farm, which is much healthier and under less stress for them.
Strategy for European Sea Farming
The European Commission in the first time of history has issued a strategy for
the development of sea farming. The commission has issued many proposals to
reform the common fisheries policy. Sea farming can help the government to
create many employment opportunities and can provide the safe supply of sea
products in affordable price. Some of the proposals of the commission are:
Employment opportunities
Increased production
Tackling competition for space
Stimulating the market
Social considerations
Improving governance
Public health
Animal health
Animal welfare
Reduce the impact of waste
Tackle the risk from alien species and genetically modified organisms
Pollution prevention and control
Environmental impact assessment
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Impact on Economy
The sea farming has a positive impact on world economy. It offers the jobs for
the fishermen who leave the catching sector. The creation of new jobs in this
sector will be achieved by increasing the production from 3.4% to 4% annually.
At present sea farming provide almost 80,000 full or part time jobs to the
fishermen in European Union alone.
Sea farming industry also helps to stimulate the market. The demand for the
products of sea farming could grow from the development of quality labels.
Conclusion
After all the above discussion, it can be said easily that sea farming is very
profitable and rapidly growing industry which contributes the 10% of worldwide
annual growth rate. It is also very useful industry to cope the food shortage
problems caused by the rapid growth of population.
Works Cited
Fuming About Fish Farming, November 25, 2001,
http://www.uaf.edu/seagrant/NewsMedia/98ASJ/03.17.98_FishFarm.html
Edited by Marek Zvelebil, Robin Dennell and Lucyna Domanska, Harvesting the sea,
Farming the Forest, November 25, 2001,
http://www.shef.ac.uk/uni/academic/A-C/ap/books/harvest.html
Future Perspectives for Sea Farming and Ranching In China, November 25, 2001,
http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/005/Y2257E/y2257e09.htm
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