Action plan for sustainable aquaculture in Åland Commissioned by the Provincial Government, the action plan aims at a marked cut-down in nutrient loading from fish farms located in the Åland Islands. The plan includes an assessment of the options for developing the aquaculture industry in a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable way, as based on current data and knowledge. The goal of the project
The action plan consisted of two main parts. First, a comprehensive analysis of the operational environment and the current status of the aquaculture industry in the Åland Islands was carried out. The second part of the plan then considered the scope for future development. Both traditional and novel production technologies were examined, as was the feasibility of farming new species. Alternative options for developing fish farming in Åland were presented and evaluated.
Results
The nutrient load from net cage farming in Åland can be reduced most effectively by developing fish feeds and farming technologies. Part of the farming can eventually be converted into recirculation systems. Such systems require new fish species, however, and therefore pose a higher economic risk than improvements to existing technologies. The environmental effects of net cage aquaculture can be minimized by choosing sites for the fish farm carefully. Using Baltic herring (Clupea harengus membras) as food for farmed fish would decrease the external nutrient load in the Baltic Sea considerably. Downsizing net cage fish production, however, would cause serious social and economic losses for the archipelago area in the Åland Islands.
Scientist in charge of project:
Jari Setälä
Turku Game and Fisheries Research
Itäinen Pitkäkatu 3, FIN- 20520-Turku, Finland
Phone: +358 205 751 682
e-mail: firstname.lastname@rktl.fi
Other research staff: Jouni Vielma, Juha Koskela, Asmo Honkanen, Kaija Saarni, Teemu Jokelainen, Minna Suvanto, Markus Kankainen ja Jarno Virtanen.
Cooperation: Provincial Government of Åland
Duration: 2006–2007
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