Sustainable Ancient Aquaculture
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Written by: Mark J. Spalding, Kathryn Peyton and Ashley Milton
Lessons We Can Learn from Ancient Aquaculture Technology
- Use plant-based feeds instead of wild fish;
- Use integrated polyculture practices such as IMTA;
- Reduce nitrogen and chemical pollution through multi-trophic aquaculture;
- Reduce escapes of farmed fish to the wild;
- Protect local habitats;
- Tighten regulations and increase transparency;
- Re-introduce time-honored shifting and rotating aquaculture/agriculture practices (Egyptian Model).
Phrases like “lessons from the past” or “learning from ancient history” are apt to make our eyes glaze over, and we flash to memories of boring history classes or droning TV documentaries. But in the case of aquaculture, a little historical knowledge can be both entertaining and enlightening.
Fish farming is not new; it has been practiced for centuries in many cultures. Ancient Chinese societies fed silkworm feces and nymphs to carp raised in ponds on silkworm farms, Egyptians farmed tilapia as part of their elaborate irrigation technology, and Hawaiians were able to farm a multitude of species such as milkfish, mullet, prawns, and crab. Archaeologists have also found evidence for aquaculture in Mayan society and in the traditions of some North American native communities.
The award for oldest records about fish farming goes to China, where we know it was happening as early as 3500 BCE, and by 1400 BCE we can find records of criminal prosecutions of fish thieves. In 475 BCE, a self-taught fish entrepreneur (and government bureaucrat) named Fan-Li wrote the first known textbook on fish farming, including coverage of pond construction, broodstock selection and pond maintenance. Given their long experience with aquaculture, it’s no surprise that China continues to be, by far, the
Photo Courtesy Blue Ocean Gear
