18 April, 2007

THE AQUACULTURE industry is preparing itself for major changes with the unveiling of plans for a technologically advanced fish farm of the future at a conference in Edinburgh.

The three day long Aquaculture Today conference started yesterday (Tuesday) and will hear that modern aquaculture should move its operations further offshore rather than using inshore bases.

This innovation would be a huge process, but if the aquaculture industry grows to the level it is predicted to, it may be necessary.

The World Bank estimates that the production of farmed fish will surpass the production of beef by 2010 and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says global aquaculture production will have to nearly double by the year 2050 to meet consumer demand.

Ireland's Clare Island Seafarms is one of the most exposed fish farms in the world and they have already taken on board offshore farming techniques.

Aquaculture development manager of the Irish Sea Fisheries Board Donal Maguire will tell delegates on Thursday that "developing offshore aquaculture in real terms is an enormous and extremely important task."

Mr Maguire will also say: "We need to replace the green revolution with the blue revolution."

The green revolution reinvigorated the agricultural industry from 1945 onwards by using industrial fertiliser and new crops to greatly expand farm production worldwide.

The international aquaculture industry also wants to enhance its efficiency. Those in favour of offshore fish farming say it is the only realistic option for meeting the increased demand for global seafood production.

Nobody has successfully trialed an offshore aquaculture initiative in the UK before, but a top DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) official said that there may be scope for such developments to take place in UK waters.

Aquaculture Today 2007 will be held at the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh until Thursday.