Maximising sustainable nutrient production from coupled fisheries-aquaculture systems

Willer, David F. and Robinson, James P. W. and Patterson, Grace T. and Luyckx, Karen (2022) Maximising sustainable nutrient production from coupled fisheries-aquaculture systems. PLOS Sustainability and Transformation, 1 (3): e0000005. ISSN 2767-3197

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Abstract

Aquaculture expansion is expected to meet growing demand for sustainable animal-source foods. Yet marine-fed species already require millions of tonnes of wild-caught fish for feed, over 90% of which are nutritious food-grade species. Allocating feed fish for human consumption could reduce pressure on marine resources while increasing seafood production. We examine micronutrient flows (the transfer of micronutrients from feed to fish) in Scotland’s farmed salmon industry, which is particularly reliant on marine feeds, to show that 1–49% of essential dietary minerals and fatty acids available in wild fish are retained in farmed salmon. Using three alternative production scenarios we show that reducing marine feeds in salmon production and allocating wild-caught feed fish for human consumption could produce more nutritious seafood and leave 66–82% of feed fish in the sea. Using global data on marine-fed aquaculture production, we show that removing wild-caught fish from salmonid production could leave 3.7 Mt fish in the sea while increasing global seafood production by 6.1 Mt.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
PLOS Sustainability and Transformation
Subjects:
?? research articlebiology and life sciencesearth sciencesmedicine and health sciences ??
ID Code:
166918
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
02 Mar 2022 15:20
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
09 Oct 2024 10:25