There is a continual diatribe against aquaculture in the media and from green groups. At the same time we are being advised by health authorities to eat more fish and global fish stocks are decreasing rapidly. We also know that unlike cattle and sheep, fish do not belch tons of methane. There are very good reasons for us to eat more fish and some contradictions here that can only be resolved by sustainably grown aquaculture.

This article puts the comparison between fish and cattle farming and points out some of the major regulatory and public perception inconsistencies.

I was recently a speaker at an Abalone Conference in Port Lincoln, Australia, which I really enjoyed. One speaker made an interesting contrast between managing the seafood industry and managing the cattle (or any other land-based livestock) industry. It was a mind-blowing thought!

Imagine cattle farming where your cattle were only permitted in small holding pens and the area was continually monitored to ensure no environmental changes occurred outside the pens.

Imagine all around your small pens there was also:
•Wild cow harvesting by commercial operators
•Wild cow harvesting by recreational operators
•Plus environmental values with the various community and green groups wandering through and lobbying vigorously against the farming.

An extra thought is that for a true comparison
•Imagine that this is also mixed with pigs, sheep, turkeys etc wandering freely around your farm.
•And perhaps a few tigers (sharks and crocodiles) making holes in the fencing to eat the farmed cattle. Remember you must bring in the wildlife officers to help you put them outside the fence because the predators are protected. Even when they attack or threaten your staff. There is a wait for the officers to arrive.

What an interesting thought. This is the true comparison. Replace the word "cow" with "fish" and you have the offshore aquaculture industry described. Had agriculture been subject to even a small amount of the same regulation and scrutiny it would not have been a viable industry.

We need to think about the benefits to both our health and our greenhouse emissions to put well managed offshore aquaculture into perspectives. I freely acknowledge that some aquaculture has been poorly regulated, but so also has agriculture. Both should be subject to scrutiny and regulation but there is not need to view all aquaculture with the hysteria that comes from some quarters.