World Ocean Summit in UAE Should Chart Way Forward for Sustainable Aquaculture

By Alice Ruhweza

As political leaders, policymakers, heads of global business, scientists, NGOs and multilaterals from across the globe prepare for the 6th World Ocean Summit 2019, that will be held from 5th-7th March in Abu Dhabi, UAE, it’s a race against time to secure the health and future of our oceans that millions rely on for food, jobs and other vital benefits.

One of the key subjects that will be on top of our minds during the summit is how the rapidly-growing aquaculture sector, especially in the developing world, can play a far greater role in food and economic security for nations and communities while remaining environmentally and economically sustainable.

In the face of a burgeoning global population — estimated to hit 10 billion by 2050 — and the heightening pressure for food, jobs and economic growth, a sustainably-managed aquaculture sector offers a significant but largely untapped opportunity.

In terms of food and nutritional security, sustainable aquaculture can efficiently meet the growing demand for fisheries products globally and lessen the stress on wild-caught fisheries. It can also provide an affordable source of proteins for millions of people in the developing world where protein malnutrition is still a disturbing reality for many.

In addition, sustainably-managed aquaculture has the potential to create considerable job opportunities for developing countries and lift people, including women and youth, from the shackles of grinding poverty. Estimates from Egypt suggest that 14 full-time jobs are created for every 100 tons of fish produced from aquaculture.

With the sector projected to expand rapidly across many regions of the world, it’s vital to ensure that this growth doesn’t occur at the expense of the wellbeing of oceans, coastal regions and communities.

Where the sector is still nascent, there is still a window of opportunity now to avoid the pitfalls experienced in other regions of the globe where the sector is more developed including ocean pollution and habitat destruction.

This is why it is critical for nations to heighten efforts to robustly address the barriers that impede the transition of the aquaculture sector to greater sustainability. Collaborations and sharing of best practices will be crucial in making global efforts a success in this regard.

A recent expert consultation on sustainable inland and marine aquaculture in Africa convened by Conservation International and the African Natural Resources Center of the African Development Bank Group in Nairobi, Kenya identified the some key areas that can help transition the aquaculture sector in the continent into a more productive and sustainable sector.

First, we need to locate aquaculture in the right places. Spatial mapping and planning is important to ensure aquaculture zones are based on carrying capacity and maximum sustainable yields as well as infrastructure availability while securing protected areas and no-take zones. Mapping would also help ‘de-risk’ the investments necessary to grow the aquaculture industry.

Secondly, we need to ensure quality, accessible and affordable seed and feed is available. The lack of affordable and high-quality feed (e.g., fish food) and seed (e.g., young fish produced in a hatchery and sold to aquaculture operators) is widely acknowledged as a primary barrier to the growth of the aquaculture industry in the developing world.

Failure to promote locally-sourced sustainable feed and seed production will push the industry towards greater reliance on poorly managed wild fish fisheries for fish feed, promote the further deterioration of water quality via poorly formulated feeds, the importation of non-native brood stock, and yield sub-optimal fish growth and therefore sub-optimal economic returns. Investment in the production of sustainably sourced aquaculture feed and seed is therefore desperately needed.

Thirdly, it’s vital to advance entrepreneurship opportunities for women and youth in the aquaculture sector to boost job and wealth creation. However, the lack of access to affordable and sustainable financing remains a major challenge for many aquaculture small- and medium-sized aquaculture enterprises run by women and youth in many parts of the developing world.

Interventions to address this may include establishment of country-specific aquaculture development funds, financing by development organisations, creating risk sharing mechanisms with commercial banks to address banks’ perception of high-risks in the sector and establishment of insurance facilities to reduce the risks associated with the sector among other measures.

In the absence of concerted efforts to address these key barriers in achieving a sustainable aquaculture sector globally, it is likely that the industry will fail to fulfill its potential for delivering economic growth, affordable nutritious food, and ecological stewardship.

I look forward to taking part in this critical conversation. See you there!

Ends

Alice Ruhweza is Vice President for Programs and Partnerships, Conservation International (Africa Field Division) based in Nairobi, Kenya. Email: aruhweza@conservation.org