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What is fish farming?
Fish farming, also called aquaculture, is when people raise fish in controlled environments such as ponds, tanks, or ocean pens.
At first, this may sound necessary in order to keep seafood available at grocery stores and in restaurants. While fish farming does provide food for a growing population, and it can reduce pressure on wild fish catch, when it isn’t done responsibly, it harms wildlife and the environment.
Some farms keep fish in crowded conditions, which makes it easier for diseases and parasites to spread. Chemicals or antibiotics used to treat the fish can leak into surrounding water. Uneaten fish waste also pollutes oceans, rivers, and lakes. This pollution can harm delicate ecosystems and the wild species that live there.
Escapes are another problem. Farmed fish that get out compete with wild fish for food and habitat, or even spread disease to them. Some species raised for farming are not native to the area, which makes the issue even more dangerous.
But this doesn’t have to happen, and there are better choices.
We can buy only wild-caught fish, choose smaller portions less often to reduce demand, and try plant-based alternatives. Today, there are more plant-based seafood options than ever before, including products made from seaweed, algae, jackfruit, and legumes that mimic the taste and texture of fish. Supporting local, small-scale fishers who use sustainable practices is another way to help.
By making thoughtful choices about which seafood we buy and how often we eat it, we can support healthier oceans. Together, we can create a food system where people and marine wildlife live in harmony.
