Reference no: EM133589288

Question: In rural areas- inland and along the world's coasts- it's common for people to engage in a combination of livelihoods depending on the season, year, and alternative options for wage-based employment. As mentioned in the first week of class, nearly 1 in 10 people on earth participate in world fisheries and aquaculture. It is even more astounding to consider that 1 in 3 workers on earth, over a billion people, and a majority of the world's poor participate in the agricultural sectorLinks to an external site.. As traditional farming areas and soils are impacted by agrarian pests like locust plagues, poor farming practices, salt accumulation, overgrazing, weather extremes, and climate change, it is necessary to explore non-traditional methods to feed growing populations. As a blend of fishing and farming, aquaculture in rural and impoverished localities presents a remarkable opportunity to provide income and protein for millions, maybe even billions, of people who have limited agricultural options and lesser access to education, technical skills, and capital.

We will analyze (a) large-scale, high-tech commercial operations (1.8; 3.3; 3.6) and (b) a research project developing polyculture systems for small-scale, low-tech systems suitable for unskilled farmers.(1.12) Topics include: water-limited systems (22.10.5), green-water use (18.2.5), seawater (4.2; 4.2.1), various culturing systems (2.2.1 - 2.5.4), integrated systems (18.8), environmental impacts (4.3-4.6), and sustainability (27.2.2 - 27.4)

This activity will help you understand the impact of human populations on resource availability and health, review examples of specific cultivated species and locations, contrast large and small scale, artisanal and experimental research projects and production methods, and compare contemporary approaches to sustainability, management, and threats to local resources.

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, "small-scale fishing communities are commonly located in remote areas and tend to have limited or disadvantaged access to markets, and may have poor access to health, education and other social services. Other characteristics include low levels of formal education, the existence of ill health (often including above-average incidences of HIV/AIDS), and inadequate organizational structures. The opportunities available are limited, as small-scale fishing communities face a lack of alternative livelihoods, youth unemployment, unhealthy and unsafe working conditions, forced labor, and child labor. Pollution, environmental degradation, climate change impacts and natural and human-induced disasters add to the threats facing small-scale fishing communities. All these factors make it difficult for small-scale fishers and fish workers to make their voices heard, defend their human rights and tenure rights, and secure the sustainable use of the fishery resources on which they depend." Aquaculture and fisheries are not limited to coastal waters, and indeed, the importance of inland fisheries and natural resource-dependent agricultural communities are increasingly recognized and targeted by sustainable development efforts.

After completing the required readings and reviewing the supplementary materials (readings and videos), integrate your understanding of the three pillars of sustainable fisheries and blue growth to improve the social, environmental, and economic outputs of your proposed projects. To evaluate what we have learned so far in this class, make a Slide Deck for sharing this discussion with your peers:

Initial post:

Post your response and suggestions on the following prompts to this discussion:

How might the introduction of a new, non-traditional practice in aquaculture best succeed and complement existing wild fisheries in your area?
Justify how it would benefit the community and what might serve the people better (large-scale commercial operation, small-scale operation, or community-based cooperative). Suggest at least one modification to your project that makes it more socially responsible, either through a broader distribution of benefits, community-based initiatives, and/or equitable employment, training, or capacity building opportunities.
What types of systems might be feasible in an area with few financial resources, lack of technical expertise, and challenging environmental constraints? Suggest at least one modification to your project to make it more environmentally responsible, such as reductions in water or energy usage or the introduction of polyculture to eliminate harmful effluents. After having reviewed large-scale and small-scale systems, include in your deck what you have learned to evaluate- and where possible- suggest improvements or modifications at two aquaculture sites:
(a) Your local site from Marion Ohio
(b) Your proposed site that you are submitting to the Atlas.
In your Slide Deck:

From Discussion 2- describe each site and system. (a. Your local site from Assignment 2.1; and b. Your proposed site for the Atlas.)
Take advantage of the many images online to help illustrate the systems (a and b) or use simple sketches.
Remember: Quality, not quantity. Limit your Decks to ten slides or less.
Clearly explain your points and suggested improvements. Also, include citations and links to images and sources you have included.
Particularly, add suggested improvements to each that would make the project more environmentally, socially, and economically viable.