The world’s human population is expected to surpass 10 billion by 2050. How to feed that many people, especially as the effects of global warming continue to worsen, was the subject of a 5 October panel at the Global Seafood Alliance’s 2022 GOAL conference in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.
University of Washington Professor of Fisheries Science Ray Hilborn, University of Stirling Aquaculture Professor Richard Newton, Environmental Defense Fund Senior Manager of Climate Resilient Food Systems Willow Battista, and Wittaya Aqua CEO Evan Hall reviewed statistical evidence linking changes in climage to global output of fishing and aquaculture production and debated the industry’s impact on the environment.
Hilborn said while the seafood industry has some impact on biodiversity loss and greenhouse gas emissions, he said it pales in comparison with that of global agriculture, citing its use of fresh water and the negative consequences of the pollution it produces, the pesticides it uses, and the soil erosion that comes of a result of intensive agriculture, which he called “the biggest threat to food security in the world.”…