Management of marine aquaculture: the sustainability challenge.

Abstract

Abstract This paper aims to: review the issues confronting marine aquaculture development in the USA; describe the current state of domestic aquaculture policy and its accompanying institutional framework; identify current sustainability challenges; and offer a series of suggestions that could enhance the future expansion of a sustainable domestic marine aquaculture industry. One of the most important issues facing the marine aquaculture industry is the negative image that it has today. Measures in designing environmentally friendly technologies, improving culture practices, developing codes of conduct and best management practices, and enhancing education and outreach programmes, have been made. Recent negative publicity has set the aquaculture community back on its heels. We must continue to deal with the realities of improving aquaculture practices, wherein the issue now is one of perception and involves people. Effective management of aquaculture in a sustainable fashion requires the involvement and cooperation of government, academia, the private sector, investors, communities and the public at large. Marine aquaculture should be looked at as an important component of expanding protein supplies, providing economic development opportunities and jobs, and offering communities the ability to diversify. Aquaculture expansion must also accommodate the need to maintain and improve the environment, social norms, and overall quality of life. It is becoming increasingly clear that marine aquaculture must be planned, developed, managed and monitored with long-term sustainability in mind. There are no easy solutions to the issues related to the sustainable development of marine aquaculture. Progress towards the future will depend in part on having learned from past mistakes and profiting from positive experiences. Marine aquaculture may still prove to provide enduring societal benefits, but only if we are very careful to ask and address the right questions. How we address these challenges (through integrated planning and management, community and public involvement, and education and outreach) will determine the future for sustainable aquaculture in the world.