Food & Water Watch (F&WW) on Tuesday responded to an analysis by Kona Blue Water Farms President Neil Sims that found farmed fish have an ecological footprint 60 times less harmful to the ocean than wild fish.
The Washington, D.C.-based environmental group said “The Ecological Efficiencies of Farmed Fish” is not a scientific paper; it’s more like a marketing campaign.
“Sims cleverly includes some legitimate calculations and citations in his less than four-page promo piece, but manipulates them in such a way that they do not stand for their original purpose — calling into question their validity,” said F&WW.
“Sims’ points are based on questionable statistical analysis that are not clearly explained or cited in his paper. While it makes for an interesting read and a fun activity to try to decipher the creative calculations, it should not be considered a meaningful piece to support ocean fish farming.”
The report’s findings support Food and Agriculture Organization recommendations for an increase in aquaculture amid declining wild stocks and closures to key fisheries. Kona Blue raises Kona Kampachi®, a yellowtail relative, in net pens off Hawaii’s Big Island.
In response to F&WW’s rebuttal, Sims said Kona’s paper was meant to initiate discussion and promote academic disclosure.
“F&WW derides the paper for not being ‘scientific,’ yet they do not refute any of the specifics. We have shared this idea, which was based on the best available information, with some of the leading scientists in the area of seafood sustainability, and there has yet to be any significant questioning of it,” said Sims. “The logic of our argument remains: responsible mariculture is at least 60 times more efficient use of ocean resources than targeting the top end of the ocean’s wild food chain.”
To view F&WW’s full response, click here.
