Why Is Sustainable Aquaculture Farming So Crucial?
James Kelly, the expertise behind the aquaculture farming at The Mermaid’s Garden
In a world with an ever-growing population, safe and nutrient-dense food sources are critical. As recently as 2019, nearly one out of every ten people on the planet experienced food insecurity. Creating a solution to this problem won’t happen overnight, but it can happen. And sustainable aquaculture farming is likely to be a significant part of the fix.
At The Mermaid’s Garden in Oregon, we’re committed to breaking down harmful practices by building a regenerative and sustainable food system through our aquaculture program. Our farming practices will allow us to raise hybrid striped bass in a way that honors the land, honors our workers, and honors our customers who deserve safe, healthy food.
What is Aquaculture Farming?
Aquaculture is the controlled cultivation of fish, mollusks, algae, and other aquatic organisms. It is responsible for producing more than 80 million tons of animals per year for the marketplace. This number will likely approach 110 million tons within the decade.
Our oceans are ever in more peril, as evidenced by the recent oil spill off the coast of California. The rising risks to sea life make safe aquaculture farms even more of a necessity.
Aquaculture farming typically falls under one of three categories:
Offshore Aquaculture: This system utilizes enclosed pens or fenced areas in open water.
Inshore Aquaculture: These enclosures are in sheltered, shallow water.
Onshore Aquaculture: This type of farming uses special tanks set up on land.
Sustainable onshore aquaculture farming is what The Mermaid’s Garden is pursuing. This plan is part of our work to disrupt the narrative around food and healing as we seek to establish a sustainable food source for our community.
Isn’t Aquaculture Inherently Sustainable?
Given the need for plentiful, protein-filled food, producing 110 million tons of aquatic animals each year sounds great, right?
Well, sort of.
Here’s the problem. Aquaculture farming is largely unregulated around the world, and in many places, it’s doing more harm than good. Without consistent oversight and best practices, aquaculture isn’t sustainable.
Some of the problems that occur include:
Overharvesting wild fish and shellfish populations to feed the farmed population
Pollution from the excess fecal matter at mass farming sites
Transfer of parasites and disease from farmed fish to wild migrating fish
Disruption of wild, native marine life due to offshore and inshore equipment
These issues leave a lot of people wondering if aquaculture’s benefits can outweigh the negatives. And rightly so! Feeding the world at the cost of the ecosystem that supports us doesn’t work.
The Mermaid’s Garden, a space where people can gather to rest, create, learn, and grow spiritually and emotionally
Enter The Mermaid’s Garden!
At our regenerative farm and retreat space in beautiful Oregon, we will be working to create the best of both worlds: renewable food sources that are sustainable and honor the earth. Our land based recirculating aquaculture farm allows us to do just that, and it’s a privilege to be part of the solution to food insecurity in our neck of the woods.
The Mermaid’s Garden is veteran, woman, Indigenous, and LGBTQ-owned. We’re radically inclusive, y’all, so come join us on our journey. The space we are creating has a divine purpose: to connect people to healthy land, healthy food, and healthy spirits. It’s time to rethink how we feed our bodies and our souls. Learn how to be part of this movement.