Abstract
AIM: This study presents a scientometric analysis of studies on net cages in order to determine whether these studies are considering environmental issues or only seeking an increase in food production; METHODS: The survey of articles was accomplished using the Thomson Reuters Database (ISI Web of Knowledge), with "cage culture" and "net cage" as keywords. We selected 238 articles that were published between 1990 and 2009; RESULTS: There was a temporal increase in the number of articles published. These articles focused mainly on fish production and environmental impacts; CONCLUSION: The studies of net cages in fish farming mainly investigated fish production, although environmental issues relating to this recent human activity were also important. Policy makers should consider both sides of the coin (i.e., both the benefits and environmental impacts of fish production) in regulation of this activity.
Highlights
The global population reached seven billion people in October 2011 (Roberts, 2011)
The present study aimed to present a scientometric analysis of studies on net cages, based on scientific articles that investigated the use of net cages in fish farming, in order to determine whether these studies are considering environmental issues or are only seeking an increase in food production
The articles were grouped into the following categories by focus: fish production–those papers referring to fish production; environmental impact–those discussing any type of environmental impact derived from fish production in net cages; technical–those related to techniques and equipment for fish cultivation in net cages; and others–those on topics that did not fit into any other category and that each had a small number of scientific articles
Summary
The world is faced with the challenge of meeting the rapid demand for food production as a way to alleviate the problems of hunger among the poorest populations, and to ensure food security. Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms, and originated about 4,000 years ago (Beveridge and Little, 2002). It is considered an efficient way to produce food, as well as being economically important. This activity, as well as other production activities, negatively affects the environment at varying levels of intensity, depending on the way in which the cultivation is practiced (extensive, semi-intensive, or intensive). Among the methods of intensive cultivation, fish cultivation in net cages or ponds has become one of the most widely practiced in recent years because it is one of the best alternatives for reducing fishing pressure on natural fish stocks (Marengoni, 2006) and has a hypothetical fast return in investment (Agostinho et al, 2007)
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