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Marine microalgae commercial production improves sustainability of global fisheries and aquaculture.

ABSTRACT: A method is described for saving 30% of the world fish catch by producing fishmeal and fish oil replacement products from marine microalgae, the natural source of proteins and oils in the marine food web. To examine the commercial aspects of such a method, we adapt a model based on results of microalgae production in Hawaii and apply it to Thailand, the world's fourth largest producer of fishmeal. A model facility of 111?ha would produce 2,750 tonnes yr^-1 of protein and 2,330 tonnes yr^-1 of algal oil, at a capital cost of $29.3?M. Such a facility would generate $5.5?M in average annual net income over its 30-year lifetime. Deployment of 100 such facilities in Thailand would replace all domestic production of fishmeal, 10% of world production, on ~1.5% of the land now used to cultivate oil palm. Such a global industry would generate ~$6.5 billion in annual net income.

SUBMITTER: Beal CM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6180066 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Marine microalgae commercial production improves sustainability of global fisheries and aquaculture.

Beal Colin M CM Gerber Léda N LN Thongrod Supis S Phromkunthong Wutiporn W Kiron Viswanath V Granados Joe J Archibald Ian I Greene Charles H CH Huntley Mark E ME

Scientific reports 20181010 1

A method is described for saving 30% of the world fish catch by producing fishmeal and fish oil replacement products from marine microalgae, the natural source of proteins and oils in the marine food web. To examine the commercial aspects of such a method, we adapt a model based on results of microalgae production in Hawaii and apply it to Thailand, the world's fourth largest producer of fishmeal. A model facility of 111 ha would produce 2,750 tonnes yr<sup>-1</sup> of protein and 2,330 tonnes y ...[more]

PMID: 30305674

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Project description:It is widely accepted that if well managed, the marine aquarium trade could provide socio-economic stability to local communities while incentivising the maintenance of coral reefs. However, the trade has also been implicated as having potentially widespread environmental impacts that has in part driven developments in aquaculture to relieve wild collection pressures. This study investigates the biodiversity in hobbyist aquaria (using an online survey) and those species currently available from an aquaculture source (commercial data and hobbyist initiatives) in the context of a traffic light system to highlight gaps in aquaculture effort and identify groups that require fisheries assessments. Two hundred and sixty nine species including clown fish, damsels, dotty backs, angelfish, gobies, sea horses and blennies, have reported breeding successes by hobbyists, a pattern mirrored by the European and US commercial organisations. However, there is a mismatch (high demand and low/non-existent aquaculture) for a number of groups including tangs, starfish, anemones and hermit crabs, which we recommend are priority candidates for local stock assessments. Hobbyist perception towards the concept of a sustainable aquarium trade is also explored with results demonstrating that only 40% of respondents were in agreement with industry and scientists who believe the trade could be an exemplar of a sustainable use of coral reefs. We believe that a more transparent evidence base, including the publication of the species collected and cultured, will go some way to align the concept of a sustainable trade across industry stakeholders and better inform the hobbyist when purchasing their aquaria stock. We conclude by proposing that a certification scheme established with government support is the most effective way to move towards a self-regulating industry. It would prevent industry "greenwashing" from multiple certification schemes, alleviate conservation concerns, and, ultimately, support aquaculture initiatives alongside well managed ornamental fisheries.

Dataset Information

Marine microalgae commercial production improves sustainability of global fisheries and aquaculture.

Publications

Marine microalgae commercial production improves sustainability of global fisheries and aquaculture.

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