Activities associated with aquaculture can result
in both positive and negative impacts on the marine ecosystem. The
environmental, ecological and genetic capacities of the marine environment
need to be considered to maintain sustainable aquaculture development
and a healthy wild ecosystem. At various levels of aquaculture production,
environmental hazards can be assessed and management measures developed
to minimize those hazards to the marine ecosystem and/or their probability
(risk) of occurrence. PICES WG 18 has begun to consider environmental
and ecological impacts associated with aquaculture. These include
ecological hazards associated with nutrient release, escaped or
released cultured organisms (predation, competition), and the potential
for disease transfer. In addition, the escape of genetic selected
species used for aquaculture may have harmful effects on the genetics
of wild populations of native species. Genetic risks should be evaluated
based on potential impacts to biodiversity and ecosystem conservation
using proper evaluation techniques. These techniques should be consistent
among researchers where possible. Moreover, it is necessary to consider
the influence on ecosystem and genetic diversity when artificially
produced seedlings are released for stock enhancement or rebuilding.
To promote responsible aquaculture in a healthy marine ecosystem,
it is critical to continuously evaluate and manage the aquaculture
activity. Clearly defining the potential hazards to the ecosystem,
assessing the probability that hazards will occur and implementing
mitigation strategies to reduce or eliminate hazards can facilitate
this oversight. The goal of this session is to identify and establish
evaluation techniques and models for potential hazards which aquaculture
exerts on genetic diversity, ecosystem function and/or the marine
environment. The potential for standardization of methods and models
that deal with interactions between aquaculture and wild organisms
will also be explored.
Invited speakers: J.E. Jack Rensel (Rensel Associates
Aquatic Sciences Consultants, U.S.A.) and Zhimeng Zhuang (Yellow
Sea Fisheries Research Institute, China)
Publications
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