The downsides of aquiculture..as requested by
LordOmar:
Aquaculture takes place mostly in coastal
wetlands in
brackish water. Wetlands, which include salt marshes, mangrove swamps and mudflats, are more sheltered than coastlines and are excellent for aquaculture. Unfortunately, most wetlands are thought of as desolate, unproductive '
wastelands' and are threatened by
development. The expansion of
agriculture,
industry, and
urban areas leads to the removal of natural vegetation and
land reclamation. Aquaculture also leads to the removal of natural vegetation in order for ponds to be dug. Once the ponds have been filled with water, excess nutrients and waste product are discharged into the pondwater which then infiltrates
groundwater supplies and coastal areas.
Eutrophication of the ponds is also possible due to the addition of nutrients.
There is also a possiblity of species mixing leading to a decrease in
biodiversity. Please see the node on
aquaculture escapees.
If aquaculture is to be successful, without causing damage to the natural environmet, there must be an understanding of how a particular
ecosystem works allowing specific aquaculture methods to be developed.