Photo by Bob Brewer on Unsplash
On November 21st, we celebrate World Fisheries Day, a reminder of the critical roles fisheries and aquaculture play in the global food supply and environmental stewardship. As someone who loves fish, consumes it regularly, and appreciates the experience of fishing, I believe it’s essential to recognize this day and express gratitude for the work that makes it all possible.
Fisheries focus on catching, processing, and selling wild fish while aquaculture—often called "fish farming"—involves cultivating aquatic animals and plants such as fish, shellfish, and seaweed in controlled environments. Together, these industries meet high consumer demand for seafood while supporting economic livelihoods worldwide.
As aquaculture expands, so does its environmental impact, creating a growing need for effective water and wastewater solutions to ensure sustainability. Clean, high-quality water is essential for the health of fish, but intensive aquaculture systems generate significant waste, including ammonia, nitrates, and organic solids. To address this, aquaculture facilities use wastewater treatment methods such as biological filters, membrane bioreactors (MBRs), and recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). These technologies purify and recycle water, reducing dependency on natural sources and helping to lower environmental footprints.
Aquaculture and the water industry are coming together in exciting ways, opening up new possibilities for innovation. With both fields focused on sustainability, advancements in energy-efficient water treatment, smart monitoring, and nutrient recovery are transforming aquaculture. This shift has helped make fish farming more eco-friendly and efficient, setting a strong foundation for a resource-conscious future in seafood production.
Written by: Sandy Rivera, Senior Search Consultant at Hunter Crown, LLC
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