Download Let Them Eat Fish? - ASU School of Sustainability

Let Them Eat Fish?
Seafood #1
Melissa Silva, Brandon Iott, Darius
Zolnierczyk, Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Kyle
Campbell
Problems Associated With Sustainable Seafood
1. Overfishing
•  Skeptics have varying opinions on the issue of
overfishing in the United States
•  New York Times claims only 24% of species remain
below "desired abundance"
•  Other sources claim 80% of world species are fully-toover exploited, depleted or in a state of collapse 2. Bycatch
•  Of the 100 million tonnes of fish caught per year
nearly 27 million tonnes are by-catch and discarded
3. Fishing Subsidies •  Subsidies totaling $20 billion a year create incentive to
overfish the waters
•  Current global fishing fleets can catch more than
double our ocean's sustainable yield
4. Loss of species
•  Desirable seafood commodities more popular
than others that are not extracted sustainably
deplete much more quickly than other species
5. Aquaculture
•  Fastest growing food sector in the world
•  The use of wild caught fish for fish feed
•  Land-based fish farms can discharge
wastewater containing harmful chemicals and
pharmaceuticals •  Displacement of aquatic wildlife habitats
through the construction and operation of
aquaculture facilities
Sustainable Fish Farms In Arizona
Wood Brothers Shrimp Farm, Gila Bend
•  Gary Wood and Craig Collins raise shrimp on their farm near Gila Bend
•  Are currently in collaboration with The University of Arizona,
Environmental Research Lab, refining disease diagnostic tools and
developed antibody detection method for IHHNV (shrimp viruses)
•  Inland farming shrimp will help save coastline from overfishing or overfarming abuse
•  Less disease problems- spreads more on the seacoast
•  Integrated Irrigation Systems Low-Salinity: Intensive Ponds, Intensive
raceways •  Low-salinity groundwater is being used on cultivating olive and cotton
conventional crops
•  USDA Certified, sponsored by United States Marine Shrimp Farming
Program
•  Using algae as a renewable resource to create form of biodiesel
•  Ponds more than 50 acres harvesting 500,000 lbs annually Wood Brothers Shrimp Farm
Figure: Quantity and value of aquaculture products
grown in Arizona from 1994 to 2000. Aramark® Current Fish Sourcing -Aramark® buys all their seafood that is supplied to ASU
through Sysco®. The original origin of the fish is unknown
as well as whether it is farmed or wild caught. This limits
student involvement and student feedback. -"Sustainable seafood comes from
sources, either fished or farmed,
that can exist over the long term
without compromising species’
survival or the surrounding
ecosystem."-Armark Site
Monteray Bay Recommendations
-"That is why ARAMARK has made a commitment to help preserve the world’s
oceans and fisheries through a partnership with Monterey Bay Aquarium’s
Seafood Watch program, which will guide company practices of supply,
purchase and consumption of sustainable seafood."-Aramark
-"Identify and encourage the purchase of seafood species listed on the Aquarium’s
Seafood Watch “Best Choices” and “Good Alternatives” lists, and discourage
purchase of species on the “Avoid” list;"-Aramark
How the Monteray Bay Lists are Created:
Wild Caught:
1. Vulnerability to fishing pressure
2. Status of wild stocks
3. Extent of discarded bycatch
4. Effect of fishing on habitat and ecosystem 5. Effectiveness of management Are these concerns measured and regulated?
Farmed:
1. Use of marine resources (Content of Fish Feed)
2. Risk of escaped fish to wild stocks
3. Risk of disease and parasite transfer to wild stocks
4. Risk of pollution and habitat impacts
5. Effectiveness of management
Monteray Bay identifies the most popular seafood items sold to US consumers and
then gathers peer-reviewed papers and government agency reports for information on
the species. Fishery experts (scientists and academics) review and discuss the
findings. Their discussion is incorporated into a final Seafood Report which goes
under external review. The recommendation is then given.
Alternative Sourcing Options Alternative local fish farming options in
Arizona
•  Licences Issued by the Arizona Department of
Agriculture
BLUE RIVER RECREATIONAL in Blue, AZ
•  SPECIES: Rainbow Trout, Kamloop Trout, Brown
Trout
BROWN'S FISH FARM & SUPPLY in Pima, AZ
•  SPECIES: Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass,
Fathead Minnows, Golden Shiners, Goldfish, Black
Crappie, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Trout, Triploid
Grass Carp, Koi
DESERT MIRAGE FARM in Sun City, AZ
•  SPECIES: Oreochromis mossambicus, Tilapia zillii,
Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Largemouth Bass,
Bluegill
WOOD BROS FARMS, INC. in Gila Bend, AZ
•  SPECIES: Shrimp - Penaeus vannamei
Trade-offs with Sourcing Pro's of local fish farming: •  Reduces transport cost/food
miles
•  Closer to a close looped system
•  Supports the local economy and
creates jobs
•  Predictable yield
•  Faster fish population
replenishment.
Con's of local fish farming: •  Unsustainable use of water
•  Limited fish options
•  Use of antibiotics and water
treating chemicals
•  Water quality
•  Environmental damage
•  Fish life quality/ health
•  Higher operational costs
Recommendations • 
• 
• 
• 
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Use only shrimp from Sustainable local AZ farms
Limit campus fish consumption (Fish Free Fridays)
Increase availability of alternative protein sources (tofu, tempeh)
Use fish from Monteray Bay's "Super Green" list only
Use fish only from the recommended "Southwest" regional "Best Choices" list
•  Use sushi only from the "Best Choices" sushi guide
•  Increase purchasing from sustainable local fish farms and advertise
these suppliers on-campus (ie. Engrained)
Citations
http://ag.arizona.edu/azaqua/farmlist.txt
Rotstein, Arthur. (2001). Arizona desert not too dry for fish. Los
Angeles Times, Retrieved from
http://articles.latimes.com/2001/jul/01/local/me-17472
http://www.desertsweetbiofuels.com/index.html
McIntosh, Dennis. (n. d.). Shrimp aquaculture and olive production sustainable integration. University of Arizona, Enviornmental Research Lab, retrieved from http://ag.arizona.edu/azaqua/aquaculture_images/shr/imp/Olive/
Integration.PDF
http://www.aramark.com/default.aspx http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/
sfw_recommendations.aspx?c=ln