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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #230615
Title: Indicators of Resource Use Efficiency and Environmental Performance in Aquaculture

Author
item BOYD, C - MISS. STATE UNIVERSITY
item TUCKER, C - MISS. STATE UNIVERSITY
item MCNEVIN, A - MISS. STATE UNIVERSITY
item BOSTICK, K - MISS. STATE UNIVERSITY
item CLAY, J - MISS. STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Fisheries Sciences
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2008
Publication Date: 4/15/2008
Citation: Boyd, C.E., Tucker, C., Mcnevin, A., Bostick, K., Clay, J. 2008. Indicators of Resource Use Efficiency and Environmental Performance in Aquaculture. Fisheries Sciences. 15:327-360.

Interpretive Summary: Aquaculture has been criticized by environmentalists for wasteful use of resources and for causing negative environmental impacts. Many of the problems identified by environmentalists can be addressed by changing or improving culture methods, which is a common approach to environmental management in other areas of agriculture. However, most programs to improve environmental performance consist of “soft,” non-quantitative goals, making it difficult to measure improved production efficiency and reduced impacts when new practices are adopted. Quantitative indicators of the efficiency of resource use and of the quantities of waste produced in aquacultural facilities are therefore needed to obtain a better understanding of the normal ranges in amounts of land, water, nutrients, and energy used per unit production of different species by different methods. This report suggests a series of indicators that can to assess aquaculture production methods. These indicators focus on the main resources needed for aquaculture, which are land, water, nutrients (fish meal, plant meals, protein, fertilizers, and liming materials), and energy. They also provide ways to assess the water pollution potential of aquaculture discharges.

Technical Abstract: The aquaculture industry is under increasing pressure to make production more resource efficient and environmentally responsible. Application of better management practices is the main approach for improving the environmental performance of aquaculture. However, there are few numerical indicators for comparing resource use and waste generation for culture of common species and by different grow-out techniques. Indicators are proposed for evaluating the efficiency with which feed, protein, fish meal, and nutrients, liming materials, water, land, and energy are used in aquaculture. In addition, methods for evaluating amounts of nutrients and other possible pollutants generated by production facilities are suggested. The indicators are designed to reveal the quantities of resources used or of waste discharged per tonne of production. This will simplify comparisons among species and production systems and facilitate comparisons with other kinds of animal agriculture.