Question

Explain any four ways by which free trade in Aquaculture has impacted the environment.

Answer 1

1. Mangrove Destruction: Expanded aquaculture leads to clearing coastal mangrove forests for commercial shrimp farms. This destroys natural coastal buffers and eliminates critical marine nurseries.
2. Biological Pollution: Farming non-native species leads to accidental escapes into open waters. These escapees outcompete local species and permanently disrupt indigenous aquatic ecosystems.
3. Eutrophication: Intense farming releases massive amounts of untreated fish waste and uneaten feed. This nutrient overload triggers toxic algal blooms that deplete dissolved oxygen levels.
4. Chemical Contamination: Heavy reliance on antibiotics, pesticides, and antifouling agents pollutes surrounding waters. This chemical runoff creates localised toxicity and drives antimicrobial resistance.