Aquaculture (fish farming) now accounts for 50 percent of the fish consumed globally, according to a new report by an international team of researchers. The industry is putting a significant strain on marine resources by consuming large amounts of feed made from wild fish harvested from the sea.
Between 1995 and 2007, global production of farmed fish nearly tripled in volume, in part because of rising consumer demand for oily fish, such as salmon, which are a major source of omega-3 fats.
According to the study’s authors, a mere 4 percent reduction in fish oil in the salmon's diet would significantly reduce the amount of wild fish needed to produce 1 pound of salmon from 5 pounds to just 3.9 pounds. Removing fishmeal from the diet of tilapia and carp would also have a very positive impact on the marine environment.