Fish Farms: Half Full or Half Empty?

Have you ever heard of fish farms, or fish farming? If so, what is your take on it? Have you ever purchased and eaten fish products from your local supermarket(s) that show 'farm raised' on the label? Unless you’re a vegan or vegetarian, it’s likely you have.

Before we get to the technical and subjectively ethical aspects of fish farming, let me ask you this: Where do you draw the line between assisted facilitation of natural biological processes, and direct tampering with them? How much of a 'natural' life cycle remains 'natural' during and after human intervention? Why have we been conditioned to (mostly) compartmentalize GMO’s into merely corn, wheat, and grain products, rather than recognize also the genetically modified animal products we consume?

As a food source, fish have a unique identity throughout the human social spectrum. I mean, besides caviar or Chilean Sea Bass, fish are typically consumed for health purposes, rather than for decadence or gluttony. Following the stroke of midnight after a night in the town, when you’re at a diner with your buddies suffering from the munchies, what’s more likely to be ordered: a burger, tacos, pizza, a cheese omelet—or strip-salmon with a side of asparagus? We assume fish courses to be such quintessential multivitamin-rich meals, yet we usually fail to properly evaluate the actual nutritional value of the fish we are consuming.

The fish farming debate is NOT new, btw. It has remained a 'hot-topic' of debate for quite some time. The livid standoff between environmentalists, marine biologists, ecologists, sustainability advocates vs. GMO advertisers, importer/exporters, lobbyists, etc., is like a UFC event in the octagon of dietary discourse. Surely, a standard hot-point of deliberation among said parties is the whether the affordability and availability of mass-produced food products take precedent over the actual nutrition provided therein. Apparently, major food distributors would rather see the masses simply follow the flock, rather than think for themselves and shop for food as learned consumers. After all, why does every brand of mac-n-cheese on the shelves display “Made with REAL CHEESE” on their box covers? After all, if it’s called 'macaroni and cheese', why is it necessary to further proclaim its authenticity? Shouldn’t it be assumed and assured that there's already actual cheese in it, since it's (legally) advertised as such? Shouldn’t that simply be implied? What’s worse are the asterisks attached to 'cheese', which refer to small-print FDA legitimized jargon, rhetoric, and nomenclature on the back of the box.

Yo may ask yourself why this is not a significant issue of debate... Well, perhaps most Americans are more concerned with selfies on Snapchat, social equity, or Kim Kardashian’s wardrobe, rather than the nutritional value of their cabinet’s contents. Ultimately, a gift and a curse we have as humans is our ever-developing sense of resiliency to life’s challenges. What's important is which battle we pick. You see, many of us can endure long periods of ingesting harmful/unhealthy food products, but not notice it for some time. For example, due to necessity, a struggling single mother may not read the ingredients of what she dumps in her shopping cart. As long as the family is being fed, she’s not likely to confront subtle shifts in her digestive cycle, fatigue, weight gain, or increased dehydration, while just trying to keep food on the table for her kids. Plus, throw commercialized popular American food consumerism back in the mix, and the kids are surely asking for burgers over broccoli any day.

Okay… Back to fish farms (clears throat, knowing personal issues with pop culture should be addressed on other platforms).

The “farming” of fish has expanded to a number of different outlets, but it is still most commonly referred to as Aquaculture. From Wikipedia:

Fish farming involves raising fish commercially in tanks or enclosures, usually for food. A facility that releases juvenile fish into the wild for recreational fishing or to supplement a species' natural numbers is generally referred to as a fish hatchery. Worldwide, the most important fish species used in fish farming are carp, salmon, tilapia and catfish.[1][2]  

There is an increasing demand for fish and fish protein, which has resulted in widespread overfishing in wild fisheries, China holding 62 percent of the world's fish farming practice.[3] Fish farming offers fish marketers another source. However, farming carnivorous fish, such as salmon, does not always reduce pressure on wild fisheries, since carnivorous farmed fish are usually fed fishmeal and fish oil extracted from wild forage fish. The global returns for fish farming recorded by the FAO in 2008 totaled 33.8 million tons worth about $US 60 billion.[4] In 2005, aquaculture represented 40% of the 157.5 million tons of seafood that was produced, meaning that it has become a critical part of our world's food source even though the industry is still technically in its 'infancy' and didn't really become well known until the 1970s. Because of this rise in aquaculture, there has been a rise in the per capita availability of seafood globally within the last few decades.

A singular bay of a Tilapia farm:

An 'open water' carp farm:

Aerial view of a mobile fish farm:

Growing debates about the quality of fish farms and their products have led to some widespread scrutiny:

The Omega-3 Misconception.

• You’re probably consuming fish because of their valuable omega-3 fatty acids. What we don’t realize is that these benefits are reduced by approximately 50% in farmed salmon, compared to wild salmon. This is due to heightened levels of antibiotics, and increasing amounts of grain and soy feed, rather that natural proteins. For example, farmed salmon are much fattier than wild salmon, but contain much less healthy omega-3 fats, and far less protein. 

Growth/Processing Stress.

• Kobe beef if the most highly prized red meat throughout the world. One of the FEW key aspects to the process of raising these elite cattle is stress minimization. It is believed that when an animal undergoes excess or unnatural stress throughout its development and slaughter procedure(s), the meat becomes tainted with acids, and electro-chemical reactions that retract from its nutritional value, and adversely affect its taste. This is consistent throughout fish farms, as the animals are forced to thrive in environments/conditions inconsistent with their natural biological programming. 

Environmental Concerns.

• Fish farms can pollute the local environment and damage nearby ecosystems. The use of concentrated antibiotics, pesticides and other farming chemicals are commonly used to combat diseases, parasites, and minor infections among farmed fish. Many fish farms are run in conjunction with locally flowing rivers and streams, which leads to frequent “escaping” of modified animals. Some farms are literally a series of anchored circular nets in a cordoned section of a particular body of water. These rogue fish then co-mingle in the wild, dispersing foreign elements into the water. One contraversial study, which analyzed a drug used to kill sea lice. It also kills other marine invertebrates, can travel up to half a mile in a life cycle, and persists in the water for hours afterward. Having a weapon for protection is futile, if it’s pointed at your own face. 

The Jevons Paradox.

• The Jevons Paradox posits that demand for resources actually increases, as production means and methods grow in efficiency. Regardless of its validity, it is an extremely retrogressive assertion: one that becomes increasingly frightening as fish farms increase in numbers, yet decrease in quality. Unfortunately, it is already commonly seen manifested in various U.S. markets. 
  

The “Duh” Factor.

• Let’s defer to the principle of Occom’s Razor: all things being considered equal, the simplest explanation is usually correct. Hmmmm… Therefore, if we genetically modify fish in a manufactured environment, compensate for their overpopulation with overmedication, and sacrifice quality for volume in their processing, they’ll likely not be very healthy to consume. 

Realistically, the world’s food problems extend far beyond salmon sterilization systems and tainted tilapia tanks, but that shouldn’t dilute the significance of knowing more about what we ingest and more importantly, how it’s produced. The cost of available foods need also be addressed. Despite a consumer’s level of awareness, he or she may not be able to afford wild caught fish if it’s priced 340% higher than it’s farm raised neighbor on the shelf. Above all, the issue here is mostly a matter of bad prioritization. Tremendous amounts of money end effort are put into setting up and running fish farms, rather than contributing to the improvement and maintenance of natural fish habitats. Simply looking away from a problem doesn’t cause it to disappear.

Why Fish Matter

No matter who you are, when and where you assumed consciousness, or even why - it's likely that you became aware of fish shortly after that. Think about it; is there anyone you've EVER met, at any time, under any circumstance, who doesn't know what a fish is?

What I'm describing is not a matter of coincidence, but rather the inevitable realization of one of Mother Earth's most valuable and majestic resources. For instance, you'll find direct references to fish in iconic ancient theological texts, early science/biology archives, etc., and especially on the tongues of legendary hunters and gatherers.

Symbolic meaning of fish in history:

• In China, fish are symbolic of fidelity and unity. An iconic fish to the Chinese, the koi, often swim together in pairs and may mate exclusively. Thus, fish likenesses (statues, charms) are often given as wedding gifts in representation of perfect union. Fish are also representative of fertility and abundance, due to their reproduction speed and volume.

• In ancient Celtic lore, the symbolic meaning of fish (particularly salmon) encompassed wisdom, knowledge, prophecy, and inspiration. Celts believed the salmon gained wisdom from eating sacred hazel nuts from the Well of Segais, or "well of knowledge". Also, they believed consuming the salmon would pass—on the knowledge from the well onto themselves.

• In Christianity, the fish is a symbol of abundance and faith as observed in the Biblical story of fishes and loaves of bread that multiply to nourish all. Many Biblical references of Christ and his disciples as "fishers of men" (evangelists). Also, you've probably seen the popular "Jesus Fish" bumper sticker. 

• In ancient Norse cultures, the fish held meanings of adaptability, determination, and ultimately the flow of all life. Fish were observed displaying characteristics of adaptability in the wild, which these cultures respected and sought to embody themselves. Salmon were especially revered, due to their rigorous annual pilgrimage to their spawning grounds, swimming against the current for the entire journey.

Early fishing for survival:

• The first evidence of humans using tools to catch for food comes from specific archeological finds. They were barbed tools likely used as spears, and are approximately 90,000 years old. The evidence suggests that humans were already catching fish in the early Paleolithic Age. 

• It is proposed that about one-third of the pre-historic human population of hunter-gatherer societies subsisted on fish. Fishing was a staple Egyptian and Chinese civilizations.

• The first recoded fish recipe is from ancient China, dated 1300 BC, which was a fish salad based on marinated and spiced carp. 

• The Egyptians caught fish in shallow pools and tributaries along the Nile during times of territorial conflict and harsh weather conditions, as a means to sustain their animal protein resources.  

• Diodorus Siculus proclaimed that the Nile contains all varieties of fish, as it supplies the natives not only with abundant subsistence, but yields an abundance of resources necessary for salting (a means of sustenance preservation).

• In ancient times, the most significant achievement in the use of fish as a source of protein was the processing of hydrolyzed protein from fresh fish. To Romans, this product was known as liquamen. 

• Ancient Romans used ice mixed with seaweed to keep recently caught fish fresh. The ice was taken from the mountains near Rome, and the seaweed taken closely from where the fish were caught.

In keeping with the above, I refer to a poignant Wikipedia entry: "Hunting and gathering was humanity's first and most successful adaptation, occupying at least 90 percent of human history, and until 12,000 years ago, all humans lived this way." You see, fishing wasn't always simply about an excuse to dodge your spouse and drink beer, while hanging out with your buddies.

Important to consider are the universalities that have driven fishing for millennia. Just as Elk invoked hunting, or treasures attracted pirates, fish have always (ironically) been irresistible bait for human sport and consumption. Fish themselves are something that human life would be quite different without; now or whenever. Coincidence; I think not.

Today, about 1 billion people (largely in developing countries) rely on fish as their primary animal protein source. In 2010, fish provided more than 2.9 billion people with almost 20% of their intake of animal protein, and 4.3 billion people with about 15 % of said protein.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, more than 40 million licensed anglers generate over $46 billion in retail sales with a $115 billion impact on the nation’s economy, creating employment for more than 828,000 people. Also, the culture is strong, as at least 60 million anglers have fished at some point over the past five-year period.

As you can see, fish are an historically iconic species of animal. With respect for all other species that have been integral to human existence thus far, fish are "kind of a big deal." They are also extremely resilient, as they've weathered the challenges of the fast growing world population, pollution, habitat infringement, and the massive global commercial fishing industry. From their numerous symbolic theological influences, to simply nourishing our bodies, they cannot be overlooked. How about a round of applause for fish...

Bluefish Bonanza: An Experience for the Ages

No matter your passion, calling, or craft, periodically there are times when things just seem to fall into place beautifully and you step back, look at your work and say, "I nailed it." Such experiences serve a dual purpose: they keep us going during times of discouragement, like a light at the end of an indiscernibly long tunnel; and once they're achieved—they recharge our inspiration batteries to full capacity. Considering how much of fishing is a matter of circumstantial chance, you learn to accept the uncertainty of when such things may occur, but your faith as a dedicated angler remains steadfast.

An iconic example of such a time took place for me, back in the early 90's. On what seemed to be a typical weekday, I stepped off the bus on the way back from middle school in Byram, CT, which is literally a stone's throw from the border of Westchester County, NY. As I walked through the crowded parking lot on the way toward my family's apartment, a red midsize sedan came screeching expediently toward my location with its horn blaring. Before I could make sense of the situation, the driver slammed on the brakes directly next to me and hopped out of the car. To my surprise, it was my uncle Steven, from my dad's side, screaming for me to "get in the car!" Alarmed, I asked him to explain, due to my immediate cause for concern. He smiled (almost deviously) and said "Have you ever been fishing before?!?" Wearing a smirk, I responded "Of course, Unc. Many times with you; remember?" With a piercing glare of determination he proclaimed "No you haven't. At least not like you're gonna today. Now get in the damn car!"

Apprehensively, I tossed my book bag in the backseat and strapped myself tightly into the shotgun position of the car, as I knew his driving would only become more erratic. For the next five minutes, as he blew through red traffic lights and skidded around narrow corners, I imagined what awaited us, that could be such an intense driving force behind his unwavering sense of immediacy.

Soon, we sped into Grass Island Park, which is actually a peninsula, along the southern part of coastal Greenwich, CT. After speeding passed the guard gate with his ID held out the window (as if the guard could actually see it), Uncle Steve made a hard right and gunned it toward the far west corner of the park, just beyond the boat club. Like a Hollywood stunt driver, he slammed on the brakes and halted us diagonally, yet almost perfectly into an empty parking space. As the excessive G-forces quickly subsided, he pushed me out of the passenger seat and screamed, "Follow me!"

Click photo map to enlarge:

After hopping a short guard rail and negotiating some thick green brush, we found ourselves standing on the small muddy shore of an isolated estuary. To our left was the shoreline, about thirty meters straight out were the boat docks, and to our right was a small channel that opened to the Long Island Sound. It was then that I realized why my uncle was so high strung; the saltwater in front of us looked as if it was literally boiling. This surreal sight was the result of notoriously aggressive bluefish engaged in a feeding frenzy on bunker (menhaden), their primary food source. The frenzy was so extreme that the bunker were literally beaching themselves at our feet, in order to escape the jaws of their exceedingly aggressive hunters. Throughout virtually every square inch of topwater within sight, there was beautiful chaos in motion.

We shared a set of two spinning setups; one with a plug (a lure that resembles a fish), and the other with a single hook. Of course, both setups were equipped with wire leaders, as the sharp toothed bluefish can easily bite through any standard fishing line with ease. The results were effin' RIDICULOUS! For what seemed like hours, without exaggeration, we landed countless amounts of ferociously fighting bluefish without pause. Periodically swapping setups back and fourth, we kept the process more interesting. When Uncle Steve had the plug setup, he was like a worker on an assembly line cranking in product after product. Simultaneously I’d reach down to the water’s edge, grab an available beached bunker, bait my hook, cast it out and BINGO: fish on! Two of the (many) captivating moments of the event were when Uncle Steve landed TWO blues on ONE plug at the same time; and when I hooked into a monster that had me sliding across the mud shore in my basketball sneakers.

Needless to say, the experience I’ve just described to you was and always will be quintessentially archival in the mind of a man who’s in love with fishing. The timing was excellent, not just in terms of the situation itself, but because I got to experience it as a wide eyed teenager, which added some experiential enormity to the event. To see and participate in such an extreme food chain—relations process was as humbling as it was exhilarating. Mind you, this was well before the days of popular cell phone ownership, so a BIG shoutout goes to Uncle Steve for choosing to temporarily leave such an extreme angling opportunity, in hopes that he could quickly find me and bring me along for the “ride.” As I’ve mentioned in earlier posts, the way a young person experiences fishing may significantly impact the manner in which it becomes a part of his or her life later on. For me, this one was a tattoo on my soul, from the moment it began.