Resource use and the environment

Authors: BOYD, CLAUDE - Auburn University; MCNEVIN, AARON - World Wildlife Fund; Tucker, Craig

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/5/2016
Publication Date: 1/9/2019
Citation: Boyd, C.E., Mcnevin, A.A., Tucker, C.S. 2019. Resource use and the environment. In: Lucas, J.S., Southgate, P.C., Tucker, C.S., editors. Aquaculture: Farming Aquatic Animals and Plants. West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons Ltd, West Sussex. Book Chapter. P. 93-112.

Interpretive Summary: The human population will increase 50% by 2100 and the demand for resources and resulting negative environmental impacts will increase in the future if humans continue to use resources anywhere near the current rate. Producing enough food for the future is a daunting task, but to do so without depleting non-renewable resources, reducing the regeneration rate of renewable resources, and causing ecological disaster is an even greater challenge. Heroic effort should be devoted to improving resource use efficiency and lessening the environmental impact of global food production. Aquaculture is responsible for roughly half of global production of fisheries products for human consumption. Annual production from capture fisheries is not expected to increase in the future, and aquaculture must supply the future increased demand for fisheries products. Aquaculture is a small but significant and growing part of the world food system. Small sectors such as aquaculture must be included in the effort to increase food production efficiency because excessive resource use and associated negative effects on global ecosystems result from the cumulative influence of all human endeavors—large or small—on natural resources and the environment. This chapter in the textbook "Aquaculture: Farming Aquatic Animals and Plants" summarizes the effects of aquaculture on the environment, including land use, energy use, water use, impacts on ocean fisheries, and pollution. The chapter also contains a discussion of the use of Best Management Practice to mitigate impacts and the role of environmental advocacy groups in identifying issues and stimulating efforts to improve food production efficiency.

Technical Abstract: The human population will increase 50% by 2100 and the demand for resources and resulting negative environmental impacts will increase in the future if humans continue to use resources anywhere near the current rate. Producing enough food for the future is a daunting task, but to do so without depleting non-renewable resources, reducing the regeneration rate of renewable resources, and causing ecological disaster is an even greater challenge. Heroic effort should be devoted to improving resource use efficiency and lessening the environmental impact of global food production. Aquaculture is responsible for roughly half of global production of fisheries products for human consumption. Annual production from capture fisheries is not expected to increase in the future, and aquaculture must supply the future increased demand for fisheries products. Aquaculture is a small but significant and growing part of the world food system. Small sectors such as aquaculture must be included in the effort to increase food production efficiency because excessive resource use and associated negative effects on global ecosystems result from the cumulative influence of all human endeavors—large or small—on natural resources and the environment. This chapter in the textbook "Aquaculture: Farming Aquatic Animals and Plants" summarizes the effects of aquaculture on the environment, including land use, energy use, water use, impacts on ocean fisheries, and pollution. The chapter also contains a discussion of the use of Best Management Practice to mitigate impacts and the role of environmental advocacy groups in identifying issues and stimulating efforts to improve food production efficiency.