Can farming fish save our oceans, or is it just another environmental disaster?

Gardening · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: As wild fish stocks dwindle, aquaculture has surged to provide over half of the world's seafood. While it promises to relieve pressure on natural fisheries, intensive farming often relies on wild-caught feed and risks spreading disease. From deep-sea pens to ancient ponds, the industry faces a complex balancing act.

Aquaculture has become the primary driver of growth in global fisheries, with production rising from 32.4 million tonnes in 2000 to 82.1 million tonnes by 2018. China dominates this landscape, accounting for 62% of global output. The practice is broadly split into extensive systems, which rely on natural resources, and intensive systems, which require high inputs of feed and oxygen. While intensive farming allows for higher production density, it demands sophisticated water purification and monitoring to manage waste and pathogen risks.

The environmental footprint of these farms remains a point of intense debate. Intensive operations, particularly those raising carnivorous species like salmon, often consume fishmeal and oil derived from wild forage fish, potentially negating conservation benefits. Furthermore, open-net pens—a popular, cost-effective method—allow waste, parasites, and diseases to flow directly into surrounding ecosystems. The escape of non-native species is another major concern; for example, a 2017 failure in Washington state released nearly 300,000 Atlantic salmon, threatening native populations.

Technological innovation is attempting to mitigate these issues. Copper alloy netting is increasingly used to prevent biofouling and reduce the need for antibiotics, while semi-submersible deep-sea projects, such as the $300 million Ocean Farm 1 in Norway, aim to disperse waste more effectively. Meanwhile, Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) offer a high-control, low-water-use alternative, though their high capital costs currently restrict them to high-value niche markets like sturgeon or broodstock. As the industry matures, the challenge lies in scaling these solutions to balance the rising demand for protein with the urgent need to protect marine biodiversity.

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