Traceability tools for cutting edge aquaculture

EU-funded researchers have developed tools and resources that will vastly improve the traceability of farmed fish in the wild. These advances will help scientists assess the impact of aquaculture on the ecosystem, and boost business by helping to ensure that healthy stocks are maintained.

Achieving sustainable aquaculture is crucial if we are to meet the escalating global demand for fish. In order to secure a healthy and prosperous industry in Europe, scientists need to better understand the impact of escaped farm fish on wild stocks. ‘Farmed fish that escape are less fit than wild salmon, with a lower ability to survive in the wild,’ explains AQUATRACE project coordinator Prof Einar Eg Nielsen from the Technical University of Denmark. ‘Crossbreeding between farmed and wild salmon reduces the fitness of wild fish populations and increases the risk of extinction.’

Further information: Traceability tools for cutting edge aquaculture