Contention one is overfishing Current federal policy impedes offshore aquaculture—ensures the us is dependent on unsustainable sources
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- Turn- RAS Bad for Environment
- RAS threatens water supplies and makes them pathogenic
- AT: Other types of aquacultures
- RAS can’t compete – high production cost
- Lack of experienced managers impede solvency
- 11 out of 17 RAS companies have failed – faulty equipment and production
- Lack of industry coordination ensures failure – only governance can solve
- RAS degrades water quality, lowering production
AT: Land Based AquaculturesTurn- Disease/chemical pollutionLand bad: disease spread, habitat destruction, chemical pollutionWheeler ’13. Garret Wheeler is a Doctor of Jurisprudence Candidate 2013, Golden Gate University School of Law. “A feasible alternative: the legal implications of aquaculture in the United States and the promise of sustainable urban aquaculture systems”, Golden Gate University Environmental Law Journal. 6 Golden Gate U. Envtl. L.J. 295 Despite these benefits, land-based facilities are not without their own environmental concerns. Potential impacts of conventional land-based aquaculture facilities include the introduction of freshwater fish into natural ecosystems, n50 which can occur through either purposeful release or accidental escape. n51 These introductions adversely impact local resources through hybridization, loss of native stocks, predation, disease transmission, and changes in habitat. n52 Additionally, interactions between aquaculture farms can result in self-pollution and disease transmission in areas where high-density farms may use water [*302] contaminated by neighboring installations. n53 Effluent discharge can also be a problem for land-based facilities. For example, raceway systems used to cultivate salmonids typically produce high total daily loads of effluent discharge, which are extremely difficult to treat. n54 Large concentrated aquatic animal production (CAAP) facilities also produce a variety of waste products. These byproducts add nutrients and solid n55 loadings to receiving waters such as rivers or streams that can, in the absence of proper treatment, result in the discharge of thousands of pounds of nitrogen and phosphorus per year and up to several million pounds of total suspended solids per year. n56 Several chemicals and therapeutic drugs are also used by the CAAP industry and may be released into receiving waters. n57 Finally, traditional land-based facilities are associated with the introduction of pathogens into receiving waters, with potential negative impacts on native ecosystems. n58 In addition to problems stemming from the discharge of hazardous material, the growth of conventional land-based aquaculture may also be limited by dwindling water supplies. For example, the productivity of the domestic catfish industry is currently threatened by decreasing groundwater resources in the Mississippi Delta. n59 Turn- RAS Bad for EnvironmentRAS results in excess CO2—acidifies the ocean and devastates fish populationASA 9 [Alliance For Sustainable Aquaculture; Joint Non-Profit Organization with Food and Water Watch Organization and Research; “Land-Based Recirculating Aquaculture Systems”; September 2009; http://www.recirculatingfarms.org/downloads/RAS.pdf; JW] Dissolved carbon dioxide is another product that can accumulate in high-density RAS. Large-scale RAS systems must supplement their tanks with pure oxygen for a greater quantity of fish to be bred, but this results in insufficient natural removal of the carbon dioxide (CO2) that is then produced.49 (In lower-density systems, oxygenation is generally unnecessary, as sufficient water exchange and aeration occurs to naturally balance levels of both oxygen and CO2.)¶ Excessive levels of CO2 can result in changes in pH towards acidification, which can be detrimental to fish if the pH level drops too low. Various technologies have been tested to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the water of these high-density systems. One method of addressing excessive carbon dioxide is the use of chemi- cals, which can balance pH levels and thereby eliminate the CO2 in RAS.50 Sodium hydroxide and sodium bicar- bonate are two chemicals commonly used in aquaculture for this purpose. Both function by increasing alkalinity in the water, resulting in a series of chemical reactions which break down carbon dioxide and reformulate it into lesser molecules. RAS threatens water supplies and makes them pathogenicASA 9 [Alliance For Sustainable Aquaculture; Joint Non-Profit Organization with Food and Water Watch Organization and Research; “Land-Based Recirculating Aquaculture Systems”; September 2009; http://www.recirculatingfarms.org/downloads/RAS.pdf; JW] RAS is not yet perfect, but the benefits of a controlled, closed system with waste management should not be overlooked. Additional research is being done to devel- op new techniques and methods to continually improve RAS.¶ Chemical Usage¶ Water supply is a common means of pathogen entry. Water for RAS is often disinfected, or obtained from a source that does not contain fish or invertebrates that could be pathogen carriers (rain, spring or well water are common sources). Biosecurity in RAS requires that the systems be designed to be cleaned easily, completely and frequently to reduce pathogens.¶ When diseases do appear, a veterinarian and diagnos- tic laboratory should be involved in determining the specific disease and treatment, using chemicals that are approved for use in food fish production.64 AT: Other types of aquaculturesOffshore is comparatively the bestBenneti et al ’10. Daniel D. Benetti, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami. Gabriel I. Benetti School of Business Administration, University of Miami. José A. Rivera HC-02, Box 1736, Boquerón, Puerto Rico. Bruno Sardenberg, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami. Brian O’Hanlon Open Blue Sea Farms LLC. “Site selection for open ocean aquaculture”, Marine Society Journal, Vol 44, No 3. May/June 2010 Many existing open ocean aqua- culture operations are currently located within 3 miles from shore and thus shoreward from the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). EEZ is defined as the area extending from 3 to 200 nautical miles of coastal states in most countries (with the exceptions of Texas, Puerto Rico, and Gulf Coast of Florida in the United States) (U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, 2004). However, there are plans for expanding these activities to the EEZ’s offshore areas in several countries, including the United States. Nonetheless, because of greater depth, stronger currents, and distance from shore, environmental impacts potentially associated with aquaculture in coastal areas are expected to be considerably lower in the open ocean, suggesting that offshore cage systems are among the most environmentally friendly meth- ods for commercial marine fish culture. Costs too muchRAS can’t compete – high production costBadiola, Mendiola, Bostock '12. Maddi Badiola is MEng in Agronomy (Univ. Lleida, Spain) and MSc in Aquaculture Systems by the University of Stirling. Diego Mendiola (BSc, MSc, PhD) is Senior Research Scientist at the Marine Technology Department of AZTI-Tecnalia. John Bostock (BSc, MSc) is Senior Consultant and Manager of Stirling Aquaculture. "Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) analysis: Main issues on management and future challenges" Aquaculture engineering, Vol 51, November 2012, pages 26-35. http://www.interfishexpert.com/recirculating-aquaculture-systems-ras-analysis-main-issues-on-management-and-future-challenges/ RAS systems were developed as a technology for intensive fish farming, used mainly when water availability is restricted: they enable up to 90–99% of the water to be recycled, through the utilization of many different components. These systems allow the operator greater control over the environmental and water quality parameters, thus enabling optimal conditions for fish culture (Heinen et al., 1996). In contrast, high capital and operational costs as well as the requirement for a very careful management and difficulties in treating the diseases (e.g. Schneider et al., 2006), are the main limitations. Moreover, having water in continuous reuse, constant pumping of new intake water is needed, leading with elevated electricity costs i.e. the higher the water reuse, the more elevated will be the costs (Shepherd and Bromage, 1988). Thereafter, RAS systems are not simple systems; they are technology–biology interaction systems, requiring performance monitoring (Lekang, 2007). They have benefited from continuous development (from the simplest path of water treatment until the most sophisticated process) (Muir, 1982 and Rosenthal, 1993); nowadays, they are considered “high-tech” methods. No SolvoLack of experienced managers impede solvencyBadiola, Mendiola, Bostock '12. Maddi Badiola is MEng in Agronomy (Univ. Lleida, Spain) and MSc in Aquaculture Systems by the University of Stirling. Diego Mendiola (BSc, MSc, PhD) is Senior Research Scientist at the Marine Technology Department of AZTI-Tecnalia. John Bostock (BSc, MSc) is Senior Consultant and Manager of Stirling Aquaculture. "Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) analysis: Main issues on management and future challenges" Aquaculture engineering, Vol 51, November 2012, pages 26-35. http://www.interfishexpert.com/recirculating-aquaculture-systems-ras-analysis-main-issues-on-management-and-future-challenges/ Water-quality issues sources are difficult to assess, as they are produced by different causes: e.g. poor approach of the overall system and production quantities (e.g. lower stocking densities than the real ones used for the calculations); equipment failure (in most of the cases due to bad designs); or poor maintenance of the system. Among all the water parameters, ammonia (appearance in 49.06% of the answers), carbon dioxide (25.67%) and oxygen (31.25%) are, for the managers, the most difficult ones to control (results obtained from word frequency query, whilst examining which parameters are monitorized and which of them are the most difficult to control). These are all caused by: (I) a considerable lack of knowledge (followed by complex designs, which is inversely related) and (II) deficient or poor training of the managers; not being able to maintain water quality parameters (with an influence in the performing of both biofilter and solid removal device) (Fig. 5). Fig. 5 presents the answers obtained from researchers and consultants (based upon their experiences). Managers of the farms attribute these problems to incorrect specifications in the case of the solids removal devices, together with undersized biofilters that rapidly clog. Adding the difficulties of managing certain devices, to the inadequate knowledge and skills of the managers, the final result is an imbalance of water parameters, damaging both cultured fish and the water’s treatment components. 11 out of 17 RAS companies have failed – faulty equipment and productionBadiola, Mendiola, Bostock '12. Maddi Badiola is MEng in Agronomy (Univ. Lleida, Spain) and MSc in Aquaculture Systems by the University of Stirling. Diego Mendiola (BSc, MSc, PhD) is Senior Research Scientist at the Marine Technology Department of AZTI-Tecnalia. John Bostock (BSc, MSc) is Senior Consultant and Manager of Stirling Aquaculture. "Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) analysis: Main issues on management and future challenges" Aquaculture engineering, Vol 51, November 2012, pages 26-35. http://www.interfishexpert.com/recirculating-aquaculture-systems-ras-analysis-main-issues-on-management-and-future-challenges/ Mechanical problems are also common in hatcheries and on-growing systems, derived, in the first place, from bad design or bad management (i.e. resulting from unexpected conditions). This pattern is created because consultants and suppliers specify that the cheapest equipments are used to meet the demands of the producers for low capital investments. The solutions given for this problems are quick repairs and in last resort replacements. Indeed, this extra capital expenditure due to rapid repairs and replacement were the reason that leaded to some farms to close the business operation. Typically, the most replaced devices, due to a RAS failure, are disinfection devices (i.e. ozone and UV), pumps and biofilters (e.g. 50% of the times when a biofilter or a pump has been replaced, it was for a RAS deficiency, 75% for O3 and 66% for UV devices). Moreover the connecting pipework and drainage pipes had also been reported as being problematic, undersized and not effectively designed (e.g. slope), respectively. Issues included here directly affect the oxygen amount in the tanks. Another effect is that lower water velocities cause the settlement of solids and/or growth of weed, i.e. compromising the water quality. As an outcome, eleven out of seventeen companies were rebuilt or redesigned completely, following their initial installation; 50% of them due to deficiencies in RAS, whilst the other 50% mainly to extend the production capacity. Lack of industry coordination ensures failure – only governance can solveBadiola, Mendiola, Bostock '12. Maddi Badiola is MEng in Agronomy (Univ. Lleida, Spain) and MSc in Aquaculture Systems by the University of Stirling. Diego Mendiola (BSc, MSc, PhD) is Senior Research Scientist at the Marine Technology Department of AZTI-Tecnalia. John Bostock (BSc, MSc) is Senior Consultant and Manager of Stirling Aquaculture. "Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) analysis: Main issues on management and future challenges" Aquaculture engineering, Vol 51, November 2012, pages 26-35. http://www.interfishexpert.com/recirculating-aquaculture-systems-ras-analysis-main-issues-on-management-and-future-challenges/ Fish farming is necessary and more will be needed in the future. Hence, RAS systems will continue to develop, but their improvement cannot be achieved if there is no communication within the industry (involving producers, suppliers, researchers and consultants). Furthermore, it is well known that the lack of information is due to a lack of governance (e.g. APROMAR, 2010 and Scottish Executive, 2003), together with and insufficient collaboration within different work areas in aquaculture. Thus, as concluded for this study there is a disincentive for communication at a commercial level, as well as a fear of reporting “bad news of failures” to the public. Nonetheless, knowledge of RAS control and management techniques are gained with experience and, as has been demonstrated, a knowledge of the technical or engineering part of the system does not always lead to success. Moreover, this study has shown that suppliers and producers do not agree, when requesting industry’s point of view, revealing evidence of individualism. It is considered (and confirmed herein) that sharing experiences and issues (without compromising on confidential data), can be beneficial for all parties. This study has confirmed also that social networks are useful communication channels and they are nowadays the best way to bring the people studying on RAS together. Water TurnRAS degrades water quality, lowering productionThorarensen '07. Helgi Thorarensen has done research and teaching in fish physiology and aqauculture, her core education expertise is in MSc and PhD in BIology. "Water quality in recirculating aquaculture systems for arctic charr culture" The United Nations University, 2007. http://www.unuftp.is/static/fellows/document/mercedes07prf.pdf However, the RAS also have disadvantages. The most important is the deterioration of the water quality if the water treatment process within the system is not controlled properly. This can cause negative effects on fish growth, increase the risk of infectious disease, increase fish stress, and other problems associated with water quality that result in the deterioration of fish health and consequently loss of production (Timmons et al. 2002). The water quality in RAS depends on different factors most importantly the source, the level of recirculation, the species being cultured and the waste water treatment process within the system (Sanni and Forsberg 1996, Losordo et al. 1999). Most water quality problems experienced in RAS were associated with low dissolved oxygen and high fish waste metabolite concentrations in the culture water (Sanni and Forsberg 1996). Waste metabolites production of concern include total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), unionised ammonia (NH3-N), nitrite (NO2-N), nitrate (NO3-N) (to a lesser extent), dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2), suspended solids (SS), and non- biodegradable organic matter. Of these waste metabolites, fish produce roughly 1.0- 1.4 mg L-1 TAN, 13-14 mg L-1 CO2, and 10-20 mg L-1 TSS for every 10 mg L-1 of DO that they consume (Hagopian and Riley 1998). However, maintaining good water quality conditions is of primary importance in any type of aquaculture system, especially in RAS. 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