Government and media is gagging the real devastated state of the ocean environment. Scientists capable of developing solutions to causes of marine ecosystem damage are being denied insight into key ecosystem collapse indicators.

Government seems busy developing aquaculture policy to grow fish on land in spite of water and arable land shortages and feed production cost to consumers.

Marine animals are starving. Seafood dependent Pacific island people are suffering malnutrition and unrest. There is no ocean management policy.

The whole world ocean full of water with free feed to grow fish at no cost is being ignored. Vital ocean food web ecosystems are being allowed to die.

Can anyone provide reference to data proving the land and aquaculture can supply world protein food demand in place of once abundant ocean protein food supplies?

JF,
At the Crawford Conference of 2004, escalating inability of ocean fisheries to supply world needs was highlighted. Aquaculture was discussed.
Dr. Meryl Williams stated present world fish stocks were 70% open water, 30% aquaculture; 40% of fish caught is traded.
Dr. Sylvia Earle emphasized that, for humanity, fish were more important in the wild than on the plate; though it didn't negate eating of fish. Fish were regarded as birds of the sea – performing functions useful to humankind, and being the “canaries” for approaching problems for ecosystems upon which we depend.
Dr Geoff Allan noted that one tonne of aquaculture Tuna requires somewhere about 20 tonnes of fishmeal. From a world perspective, carp are better species – 10 million tonnes of Carp require 7 million tonnes of feed, not necessarily fish; and that Catfish are similar. Aquaculture fish-feed needs scientific work- eg. protein for appropriate species can be adequately provided via grain from which the bulk of starch has been removed.
Dr Peter Walker noted that caution was needed in relation to the aquaculture industry. Diseases are certain to develop, and utter disaster will be the result for impoverished farmers who have become totally dependent for income from aquaculture.

At the 2006 Crawford Conference, Dr Frank Rijsberman noted that rivers are drying up, groundwater levels are falling dramatically, and water pollution is rampant near most Asian cities. All water that falls as rain serves a purpose in nature. Ecosystems need water to provide ecosystem services.
Dr Mark Rosegrant stated that feeding the world’s growing population will depend to a large extent on irrigation, but the future of irrigation water supplies are increasingly constrained by growth in other sectors.
Dr Tushaar Shah said the Indo-Gangetic basin – indeed the whole of South Asia – has experienced a groundwater boom accounting for over 70% of irrigated areas, a response, essentially, to rapid increase in population pressure on farm lands. At 400 million, Indo-Gangetic basin is home to more poor people dependent on farming than all of Africa.

Population stabilization worth noting Mr Chartres?

Colinsett, you clearly have very considerable understanding of relevant expertise. At Sydney in the early 1980's I briefed Sylvia Earle about the world fishery depletion situation.

Who exactly possesses overall knowledge to prove aquaculture is capable in producing adequate fish protein supply at viable and affordable cost to replace world food supply no longer abundant and virtually free from the ocean? Is anybody managinging the overall situation?

In other words, what scientific evidence exists to justify apparent government and media policy to boycott or shun or ignore debate and urgent solutions to devastation of the marine environment and collapse of natural ocean protein food supplies on this planet? Why hide a cancer when there are viable and sustainable solutions?

Why does fresh water science apparently stop where river estuaries meet the coastline?

Why does the Australian CSIRO not understand the biology of alongshore current that I find is transporting fresher water and bonded nutrients that feed or pollute the Great Barrier Reef? How can river flow into coastal alongshore current be justifiably excluded from ocean ecosystem science?

Has any authority condoned destruction of the world ocean environment in the economic push to develop and expand aquaculture, pork and chicken industrial food production?

Why is there aquaculture policy but no ocean management policy? Why is nutrient pollution dumped from river and ocean outfalls unmeasured, and, unmanaged?

Solutions do not have to impact on aquaculture. The aquaculture industry could virtually abandon ponds and expand in free range unfenced marine culture regeneration of wild fish stocks in what remains of the world’s natural ocean environment. Legislation can protect investment. There is no alternative. Fertile breeding numbers of fish are at an all time low. Exponential decline of fish stocks and food web ecosystem damage is already serious and general. See:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/05/0515_030515_fishdecline.htm