Wild fisheries are essential to global food security but are facing immense pressure from overfishing to climate change. Aquaculture is now a major form of seafood production globally, but has thus far largely supplemented fisheries. In theory, aquaculture could be used to reduce pressures on wild-caught stocks by replacing some catch, reducing its reliance on wild aquatic feed, and optimizing wild seed sources. However, little effort has been given to reconcile fisheries sustainability with aquaculture expansion and food security. The Froehlich Lab is exploring the theoretical and practical potential of actively incorporating aquaculture into fisheries management for more sustainable seafood production.
Relevant Papers
Froehlich, H.E., J. Afflerbach, D. Williams, C. O'Hara, C. Kuempel, B. Halpern. Biological Life-history and farming scenarios of marine aquaculture to help reduce wild marine fishing pressure. 2023. Fish and Fisheries. 24.6: 1034-1047. https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12783
Froehlich, H.E., R. Gentry, S.E. Lester, R.S. Cottrell, G. Fay, T.A. Branch, J.A. Gephart, E.R. White and J.K. Baum. 2021. Securing a sustainable future for US seafood in the wake of a global crisis. Marine Policy. 124:104328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2020.104328
Kuempel, C.D., H.E. Froehlich, B.S. Halpernω. 2021. An informed thought experiment exploring the potential for a paradigm shift in aquatic food production. Ocean and Coastal Management. 206: 105574. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2021.105574
Cottrell, R.S., D.M. Ferraro, G.D. Blasco, B.S. Halpern, and H.E. Froehlich. 2021. The Search for Blue Transitions in Aquaculture-Dominant Countries. Fish and Fisheries. https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12566
Cottrell, R.S., M. Metian, H.E. Froehlich, J.L. Blanchard, N. Sand Jacobsen, P.B. McIntyre, K.L. Nash, D.R. Williams, L. Bouman, J.A. Gephart, C.D. Kuempel, Daniel D. Moran, M. Troell, B.S. Halpern. 2021. Time to rethink trophic levels in aquaculture policy. Reviews in Aquaculture. https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12535 *selected as the editorial Sena De Silva paper of the year
Cottrell, Richard S., J.L. Blanchard, B.S. Halpern, M. Metian, and H.E. Froehlich. 2020. Global Adoption of Novel Aquaculture Feeds Could Substantially Reduce Forage Fish Demand by 2030. Nature Food 1(5): 301–8. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-020-0078-x.
Froehlich, H.E., N. Sand Jacobsen, T.E. Essington, T. Clavelle, B.S. Halpern. 2018. Avoiding the Ecological Limits of Forage Fish for Fed Aquaculture. Nature Sustainability. 10.1038/s41893-018-0077-1
Clavelle, T., S.E. Lester, R.R. Gentry, H.E. Froehlich. 2019. Interactions and management for the future of marine aquaculture and capture fisheries. Fish and Fisheries. 10.1111/faf.12351
