Aquaculture SMEs and associations
Aquaculture will have to play an increasingly important role in meeting the global demand for fisheries products as the world population continues to expand and fisheries stocks approach their biological limits. Although world aquaculture production reached an all time high of 28.8 million metric tons valued at $45.4 billion (US$) in 1997, aquaculture production will have to expand at least two fold to meet world demand for fisheries products by the year 2025. Global production of farmed fish and shellfish has more than doubled in the past 15 years. Many people believe that such growth relieves pressure on ocean fisheries, but the opposite is true for some types of aquaculture. On balance, global aquaculture production still adds to world fish supplies; however, if the growing aquaculture industry is to sustain its contribution to world fish supplies, it must reduce wild fish inputs in feed and adopt more ecologically sound management practices. All nutrients commonly used to describe possible eutrophication risks induced by aquaculture appeared to be affected by loadings (except for silicates).
SCHeMA sensors could prevent potential nutrients loading and eutrophication, by monitoring the concentration of nutrients otherwise prevent potential impact from trace metals and to provide early warning of HAB to the farm.
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