Farming the Sea

Abstract

During the last decades aquaculture has been one of the world's fastest growing food production technologies. This is primarily due to increased control over the production process that has enabled innovations, productivity growth, and reduced production costs. Compared to agriculture, production technology, research, and development in aquaculture are still not very sophisticated, and control over the production process is still limited. This implies that there still is potential for further innovations and productivity growth in aquaculture. Although one must face similar environmental challenges as agriculture, there is no doubt that intensive aquaculture can be sustainable. Moreover, increased food production from the sea can reduce pressure on marginal terrestrial land and deforestation. As the productivity potential in aquaculture is exploited, aquaculture production is set to continue its increase, and humanity will, to an increasing extent, also farm the sea.