Aquaculture: Gaining support for Marine Protected Areas
What's the problem?
At present, aquaculture is rarely compatible with protected areas. As a result, aquaculture firms are mostly opposed to the establishment of Marine Protected Areas. And when governments are keen to see economic growth in coastal areas, they often listen to the aquaculture industry rather than environmentalists and other stakeholders.
WWF is working with aquaculture companies to break the current deadlock between Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and fish farms.
A major breakthrough came in early 2003 when Nutreco - the world's largest salmon-farming company - issued a public corporate statement supporting the establishment of MPAs.Nutreco's stance makes it easier to set up MPAs in countries where it has operations, including Canada, Chile, Ireland, Norway, and Scotland.
The statement helped WWF-Norway to get legislation passed by the Norwegian parliament that allows for the establishment of MPAs. Subsequently, in 2003 the Norwegian government protected 13 fjords from the impacts of salmon aquaculture.
