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Ressources of Newfoundland: Difference between revisions
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===Aquaculture=== | ===Aquaculture=== | ||
Today, there is a vast enthusiasm for mariculture in Labrador and Newfoundland. Aside from the sustainable aspect of mariculture (in relation to cattle farming, wild fishing, and inland aquacuture<ref>About the effects of cattle farming and aquaculture of fish or shrimp, see our wiki page: [Overall impact of the 40 most produced_foods on the environment] </ref>), its capacity to maintain populations together in the homeland where they would benefits from durable jobs is one of the main narratives used by NAIA (Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association); relying on locals’ bad memories from the 90’s moratorium.<ref>Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association website. | https://naia.ca/</ref> | Today, there is a vast enthusiasm for mariculture in Labrador and Newfoundland. Aside from the sustainable aspect of mariculture (in relation to cattle farming, wild fishing, and inland aquacuture<ref>About the effects of cattle farming and aquaculture of fish or shrimp, see our wiki page: [[Overall impact of the 40 most produced_foods on the environment]] </ref>), its capacity to maintain populations together in the homeland where they would benefits from durable jobs is one of the main narratives used by NAIA (Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association); relying on locals’ bad memories from the 90’s moratorium.<ref>Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association website. | https://naia.ca/</ref> | ||
But then, what are the real improvements since the controversies of the Norwegian salmon industry ? Off course their blue mussels can be sustainable and even organic, but what about their salmons which main webpage is inaccessible? When inquiring on local actors in aquaculture, it’s always back to pledges for sustainability without enough real described actions stated, aside from philanthropy.<ref>“Mitigating against litter, pollution and lost or abandoned marine debris” but how and with what investments? Cooke seafood, Sustainability Policy 7th edition, 2021. | https://www.cookeseafood.com/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Sustainability-Policy-7th-Edition.pdf </ref> | But then, what are the real improvements since the controversies of the Norwegian salmon industry ? Off course their blue mussels can be sustainable and even organic, but what about their salmons which main webpage is inaccessible? When inquiring on local actors in aquaculture, it’s always back to pledges for sustainability without enough real described actions stated, aside from philanthropy.<ref>“Mitigating against litter, pollution and lost or abandoned marine debris” but how and with what investments? Cooke seafood, Sustainability Policy 7th edition, 2021. | https://www.cookeseafood.com/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Sustainability-Policy-7th-Edition.pdf </ref> | ||
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:When it comes to energy inputs, it is stated per unit of production, which does not consider the rebound-effect typical from those kind of improvements. But the oddest part is that it talks about decline while showing a rising curve. | :When it comes to energy inputs, it is stated per unit of production, which does not consider the rebound-effect typical from those kind of improvements. But the oddest part is that it talks about decline while showing a rising curve. | ||
:The advantage of Canada’s coastline are their strong currents, where fish farms are placed to avoid an excess of organic deposition below, on the oceans’ bed. | :The advantage of Canada’s coastline are their strong currents, where fish farms are placed to avoid an excess of organic deposition below, on the oceans’ bed. | ||
:Finally, the report often recognise the efficiency and beneficial ecosystemic services from shellfish farming; <u>which brings us to “Regenerative Ocean Farming”.</u><ref>“the use of “cleaner fish” (usually a member of the wrasse family), lice traps, the development of an eco-bath closed delivery system, and the use of full tarps for all net-pen therapeutant applications […] the trend in expenditures on energy used in production has declined on a $/tonne of production basis […] Canada’s farmed finfish feed conversion ratio is about 1.2:1. This means 1.2 kg of feed is needed to produce 1 kg of fish. This ratio has improved dramatically from previous decades, and is significantly lower than the FCRs for other sources of food protein: poultry (1.7:1 to 1.9:1), pork (2.8:1 to 2.9:1) and beef (6:1 to 9.1:1). […] Since 1990 the ratio of marine protein to produce 1kg of finfish protein has dropped from 3.8kg of fish meal and 2.8kg of fish oil to only 0.7kg of fish meal and 0.5kg of fish oil, a reduction of more than 81% and 82% respectively […] Locating marine farms strategically in areas of deeper water and strong currents, combined with mitigation measures such as site fallowing, help to minimize deposition from farms. Under federal and provincial regulations finfish farms are monitored for changes to the seabed. […] Pesticides used in farming seafood are evaluated by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency with strict environmental protection measures in place under the Pest Control Products Act. […] Recent studies reveal that farming shellfish can improve species abundance and diversity, have beneficial impacts on pelagic fish around farm sites, reduce pressure on wild stocks, and play an important role in stocking programs to replace depleted wild stocks. | :Finally, the report often recognise the efficiency and beneficial ecosystemic services from shellfish farming; <u>which brings us to “Regenerative Ocean Farming”.</u><ref><small>“the use of “cleaner fish” (usually a member of the wrasse family), lice traps, the development of an eco-bath closed delivery system, and the use of full tarps for all net-pen therapeutant applications […] the trend in expenditures on energy used in production has declined on a $/tonne of production basis […] Canada’s farmed finfish feed conversion ratio is about 1.2:1. This means 1.2 kg of feed is needed to produce 1 kg of fish. This ratio has improved dramatically from previous decades, and is significantly lower than the FCRs for other sources of food protein: poultry (1.7:1 to 1.9:1), pork (2.8:1 to 2.9:1) and beef (6:1 to 9.1:1). […] Since 1990 the ratio of marine protein to produce 1kg of finfish protein has dropped from 3.8kg of fish meal and 2.8kg of fish oil to only 0.7kg of fish meal and 0.5kg of fish oil, a reduction of more than 81% and 82% respectively […] Locating marine farms strategically in areas of deeper water and strong currents, combined with mitigation measures such as site fallowing, help to minimize deposition from farms. Under federal and provincial regulations finfish farms are monitored for changes to the seabed. […] Pesticides used in farming seafood are evaluated by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency with strict environmental protection measures in place under the Pest Control Products Act. […] Recent studies reveal that farming shellfish can improve species abundance and diversity, have beneficial impacts on pelagic fish around farm sites, reduce pressure on wild stocks, and play an important role in stocking programs to replace depleted wild stocks.”</small> Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, The State of Farmed Seafood in Canada, 2018 Report. | https://naia.ca/application/files/9315/4998/1451/TheStateofFarmedSeafoodinCanada2018_Report.pdf | ||
</ref> | </ref> | ||
===Regenerative Ocean Farming=== | ===Regenerative Ocean Farming=== | ||
Among sustainable systems emerging, “Regenerative Ocean Farming” is the most promising. Pioneered by former cod fisherman Bren Smith, born in Maddox Cove, Newfoundland; “Restorative ocean farms“ are designed around kelp seaweeds (mostly kelp, Laminariales) and shellfishes. This model requires very low capital costs as it is based on underwater “scaffoldings of rope” attached to floating buoys. Cheap to build, a restorative farm can be put together in two days. This implies that a farm can be built sporadicly for one single season, or kept active all year round. Other than sucking up the excess of nutrients (mainly nitrogen responsible for eutrophisation) by intensive agriculture upstream, seaweeds can actually absorb large quantities of carbon dioxide. Ocean acidification being caused by excess anthropogenic CO2 from the air migrating in the oceans, cultivating fireproof seaweeds forests able to absorb CO2, might be even more durable than land forests. Seaweed makes cheap and reliable base material for biodegradable paper and cardboard; but also provide healthy habitats for other species to thrive in. This is where shellfish comes into play: requiring zero input such as fertiliser, fresh water or feed, shellfish can simply grow and filter the water which will later help the seaweed grow.<ref>The Soft Protest Digest, Fishing series: How to better farm the ocean? A look at “restorative ocean farming”, wiki online. [🐟 Fishing series: How to better farm the ocean? A look at “restorative ocean farming”]</ref> | Among sustainable systems emerging, “Regenerative Ocean Farming” is the most promising. Pioneered by former cod fisherman Bren Smith, born in Maddox Cove, Newfoundland; “Restorative ocean farms“ are designed around kelp seaweeds (mostly kelp, Laminariales) and shellfishes. This model requires very low capital costs as it is based on underwater “scaffoldings of rope” attached to floating buoys. Cheap to build, a restorative farm can be put together in two days. This implies that a farm can be built sporadicly for one single season, or kept active all year round. Other than sucking up the excess of nutrients (mainly nitrogen responsible for eutrophisation) by intensive agriculture upstream, seaweeds can actually absorb large quantities of carbon dioxide. Ocean acidification being caused by excess anthropogenic CO2 from the air migrating in the oceans, cultivating fireproof seaweeds forests able to absorb CO2, might be even more durable than land forests. Seaweed makes cheap and reliable base material for biodegradable paper and cardboard; but also provide healthy habitats for other species to thrive in. This is where shellfish comes into play: requiring zero input such as fertiliser, fresh water or feed, shellfish can simply grow and filter the water which will later help the seaweed grow.<ref>The Soft Protest Digest, Fishing series: How to better farm the ocean? A look at “restorative ocean farming”, wiki online. [[🐟 Fishing series: How to better farm the ocean? A look at “restorative ocean farming”]]</ref> | ||
Although first developed in Thimble Islands, Connecticut, regenerative ocean farms have spread in North America thanks to non-profit GreenWave. It reached an international attention during the last 10 years, with Bren Smith as main iconic figure, describing its gradual awareness of the destructive commercial fishing methods until he co-founded GreenWave and won the Buckminster Fuller Challenge prize in 2015. | Although first developed in Thimble Islands, Connecticut, regenerative ocean farms have spread in North America thanks to non-profit GreenWave. It reached an international attention during the last 10 years, with Bren Smith as main iconic figure, describing its gradual awareness of the destructive commercial fishing methods until he co-founded GreenWave and won the Buckminster Fuller Challenge prize in 2015. | ||