Aquaculture is Growing Rapidly, but What about its Sustainability?

A report by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences puts the value of the aquaculture industry at almost $2.29 billion.

Supplied photo obtained Monday, Dec. 13, 2010 of a Queensland Groper in a 60 000 L broodstock tank. The Groper, a protected species in the wild, will be heading to dinner plates across Australia and Asia thanks to an Aquaculture program in far north Queensland. (AAP Image/QLD Govenrnment Dept. Employment, Economic Development and Innovation) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY Credit: DEEDI/PR IMAGE

And aquaculture is seen by some as a potential solution to reduce overfishing and a way to provide sustainable protein for the world.

But aquaculture has gotten a lot of criticism since it took off commercially about 50 years ago.

Wastewater runoff can contaminate the surrounding water and disease can spread rapidly and this leads to the use of antibiotics and chemicals.

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