April 10, 2008

Offshore aquaculture not a remedy to US reliance on seafood imports
 

Commercial-scale open ocean aquaculture will not reduce the US' seafood trade deficit despite government claims, according to a report by consumer rights organisation Food & Water Watch.

Offshore aquaculture is not proven to be technically possible, environmentally sustainable or financially viable on a commercial scale and it cannot help to reduce US dependency on seafood imports, said Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch.

The US exports more than 70 percent of its seafood and imports from other countries to replace the stocks while using the concept of 'selling at high prices while purchasing at low prices'. However, the imports come from countries with lower quality and health standards, said the report.

These trading patterns mean that the global seafood companies get the financial benefits at the expense of the consumers, according to Hauter, adding that there is a risk of human health as the food inspection programme inspects less than 2 percent of all imports. 

Food & Water Watch said the fish reared in offshore aquaculture cages would likely follow the current export pattern and that the retained small quantity of newly farmed fish would not offset the volume of imported fish.

Instead, the organisation suggests reducing import reliance by cutting down on export volume while increasing domestic consumption of US seafood, which the organisation said is enough to cover more than half of domestic consumption.

The government should focus its resources on protecting consumers from potentially unsafe imports instead of spending them on a new industry with known risks and questionable benefits, said Hauter.

"Our government needs to invest in a stronger import inspection programme and promote safe and sustainable seafood for American consumers."