The Effects of Semi-Intensive Aquaculture on Biodiversity In Nearshore and Inland Waters

The effects of aquaculture on biodiversity have been the subject of much examination, but most of the focus has been on two particular aquaculture systems:  shrimp and salmon.  However, these are not among the most common species grown in aquaculture, or the most common systems used.  Many aquaculture systems use semi-intensive culture to produce fish at a lower level of intensity and use more natural systems, often in ponds or other containers.  Semi-intensive aquaculture has a different potential impact than intensive aquaculture, and the specific impact in this area has not been well defined.  The role of intensification in aquaculture and agriculture is the subject of much debate today, so this is a good time to consider the relationship between lower intensity aquaculture and biodiversity as a part of that debate.  This symposium is proposed to identify and illustrate the main impacts of semi-intensive aquaculture on biodiversity, and to seek means of reducing these impacts of aquaculture expansion on organisms.