Professor Jianguang (Jian) Qin from Flinders University, a renowned expert in the field, sheds light on the current trends in mariculture. "The industry is developing more advanced feeding and breeding programs, advanced water filtration systems, and predictive analytics for optimising production," Professor Qin explains. These advancements are not just limited to traditional aquaculture methods but also encompass a broader range of mariculture species, potentially including genetically modified organisms (GMOs) designed for faster growth and disease resistance.
China, a leader in this industry, demonstrates its commitment to these innovative practices. Dr. Zhenhua Ma, a specialist from the South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute and a Ph.D. from Flinders University, emphasizes China's long history of pioneering aquaculture techniques. These techniques focus on the development of nutritional and sustainable nutrition for farmed fish, biotechnological applications, and ecological management technologies.
The special edition of the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, introduced by Professor Qin and Dr. Ma, illustrates how improving oceanic fish farming systems is pivotal in saving wild fish stocks from overfishing and further environmental degradation. This edition provides a comprehensive overview of the species farmed in China, which includes yellowfin tuna, mackerel tuna, greater amberjack, yellowtail kingfish, humphead wrasse, bluestripe snapper, golden pompano, yellow croaker, coral trout, shrimp (Penaeus monodon), sea cucumber, sea urchin, and microalgae (Isochrysis zhanjiangensis).
Among the notable innovations in this field are integrated wind turbine-fishing cages, which exemplify the intersection of renewable energy and sustainable aquaculture. Additionally, the use of genetic selection, microsatellite markers, and DNA barcoding are key strategies for monitoring population dynamics and adapting to challenges like disease, high temperature, nitrogen, and salinity stresses.
These technological advancements are not confined to China. Australia and many other countries are adopting these new techniques, including real-time water quality monitoring and fish growth tracking. This global shift towards more sustainable and technologically advanced aquaculture practices highlights the industry's response to the pressing issues facing our oceans and the seafood supply.
Professor Qin concludes, "While fish provide vital human nutrition, temperature stresses are increasingly putting pressure on local fish, crustacean, and molluscan species in coastal systems around the world." This statement underscores the urgency of adopting innovative and sustainable aquaculture practices to ensure the long-term viability of marine ecosystems and the global seafood supply.
Research Report:New Techniques in Marine Aquaculture
Related Links
Flinders University
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