Feed & Additive Magazine Issue 3 April 2021

SPECIAL STORY 64 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE April 2021 GLOBALWARMING PROMISES TO CHANGE FISH AND SHRIMP FARMING Sustainable aquaculture is threatened by climate change. Here are ways climate poses a threat to shrimp and fish farming, and what the industry can do to adapt to the threat. Roy Rosen Aquaculture Development Scientist Biomin* Benedict Standen Aquaculture Product Manager Biomin C limate change is one of the biggest challenges the world is facing in the 21st century, and it is a direct threat to food security. Climate change affects aquaculture by impacting water temperature, algal blooms, global changes in sea levels and regional or local level extreme climate events. These changes can make aquatic species more susceptible to diseases. It will also affect feed formulations that rely on ingredients of plant origin. Feed of plant origin is vulnerable to mycotoxin contamination, and climate change has been increasing the mycotoxin threat. Mycotoxins’ negative effects in fish and shrimp range from acute mortality to chronic reduction in immu- nity, fecundity and performance. Aquaculture must ‘adapt or die’ and, for the pro- ducer, this may include real time monitoring, auto- mation, digitalization, using efficient feeds and em- ploying prophylactic health management programs. Climate change is a reality that threatens food se- curity and requires us in the aquaculture industry to adapt in numerous ways. According to the World Health Organization in 2018, “In the last 130 years, the world has warmed by approximately 0.85oC. Each of the last three decades has been successively warmer than any preceding decade since 1850. Sea levels are rising, glaciers are melting and precipita- tion patterns are changing. Extreme weather events are becoming more intense and frequent.” We have recently reached a turning point where policy, legislation, industrial growth and technolo- gy have been challenged. Increased awareness and concern have manifested in many demonstrations, e.g. Fridays for Future, often led by youth around the world. Indeed, in the mainstream population, we now understand the scientific, economical and often personal detail, that climate change influenc- es us all. Industry’s Shining Star FISH FARMING