Rye, New York, U.S.A.-based nonprofit Aquatic Life Institute (ALI) has published research finding that aquaculture producers who prioritize both the biological health and the overall welfare of their aquatic animals run more profitable and, therefore, sustainable operations.
In a summary of its findings, ALI said that “prioritizing innovative, welfare-centric advancements in aquaculture ensures a higher quality of life for farmed aquatic animals, minimizes product loss and reputational risk, and enhances final product quality, aligning with consumer expectations for ethically sourced seafood.”
Tessa Jane Gonzalez, the head of research at ALI, said that though the two terms are often used interchangeably, a distinction should be drawn between the biological health of aquatic animals and the overall welfare they experience.
Gonzalez drew on feedback from industry stakeholders to determine the parameters of animal welfare, which included goals that went beyond keeping animals healthy, like reducing stress and attempting to mimic an animal’s natural behaviors.
Through a review of numerous industry case studies, Gonzalez found that the businesses which prioritized both animal health and welfare were not only the most sustainable but also maximized their profits.
The businesses that do this show “measurable improvements in animal health, operational efficiency, and product quality,” ALI said.
Additionally, businesses that could avoid using antibiotics through a focus on good welfare were not only saving money and protecting their animals but also protecting public health by not contributing to human antibiotic resistance, Gonzalez said.
Innovative aquaculture welfare technologies featured in the research included Tidal by X and the KelpRing. Tidal by X uses underwater sensors to gather intelligence about animal health and welfare, like growth, weight distribution, feeding, and lice count. The KelpRing is a naturally buoyant, year-round platform that grows kelp, providing habitat enrichment and boosting welfare.
Gonzalez also explored the benefits of the F3 Feed Innovation network, a collaborative aquaculture feed alternative network which is scaling the use of feeds such as bacterial meals, plant-based proteins, algae, and yeast to reduce the amount of wild-caught fish used in fish feed.
