Conflicts for Global Aquatic Resources: The Need for Tools to Assess Tradeoffs

The general public, many conservationists and natural resource professionals in North America poorly understand the risks, benefits, and options of aquaculture production.  Aquaculture is used for rearing many species of fish and shellfish for recreational and commercial fisheries enhancement, and as a tool to restore endangered populations of fish and shellfish.  Conservationists have been critical of large-scale aquaculture production for food, especially with regard to effluents, chemicals used in production, the potential for release of pathogens and parasites, and the potential of escaped individuals affecting native aquatic communities.  Global human population and economic growth have increased the use and the demand for freshwater resources to support terrestrial food and energy production.  The recent trends in food choice in developing countries show increased preference and use of animal protein in diets, even in nations with populations long considered vegetarian.  It is well known that capture fisheries cannot meet these increasing demands for food and fiber and sustain wild fish and shellfish populations.  Increased production of animal protein, whether on land or through aquaculture will increase demands on all water resources.  We examine global and North American trends in aquaculture and terrestrial food production and propose an assessment framework that can be useful to evaluate, educate and enhance decisions and research directions to improve understanding of the sustainability of global water and land resources.