Risk and Risk Management for Feed and Seed for Marine Fish Raised in Offshore Aquaculture

For open ocean aquaculture of marine fish, the provision of feed and seed occurs externally
to the actual fish culture operation. How these external activities are conducted and applied determines the potential ecological impact for the industry as a whole. Ecological risks associated with marine aquaculture may be addressed using a framework similar to that used for assessment of risks in other areas of our lives. The use of a framework developed for the World Health Organization (WHO) for assessment of risk to human health from various threats has been proposed for assessment of risk to the environment from marine aquaculture1. The identification and characterization of risk are the first steps in determining what risk management strategies might be the most productive in developing supplies of feed and seed for offshore aquaculture that are low risk and will be stable and dependable over the long run. For each risk, the WHO risk assessment framework may be applied to focus research and development on strategies that could be used to reduce or eliminate risk. In most cases, multiple options exist for risk reduction. Risk management strategies that improve economic gain and reduce or eliminate multiple ecological risks, however, are preferred and they have a much higher chance of resulting in meaningful improvements. Furthermore, strategies that allow improvement, or change over the long term, provide more flexible and ultimately sustainable solutions. In most cases, research is needed to develop better risk management strategies. Up-front costs associated with research, development, and implementation often limit application of risk management strategies to industries large enough to afford these costs even if there are long-term economic benefits associated. This is especially true when governments do not fund this type of research and development.