Danish Sea Farming of TroutDanish Sea Farming of Trout

The Ugly Duckling of Danish Food ProductionThe Ugly Duckling of Danish Food Production

Karl Iver Dahl-MadsenKarl Iver Dahl-Madsen

About Denmark No novice in food production Major pig farming cluster 1 Danish Farmer produces

food for 150 people We are European leaders in

fresh water trout production since late 1800

We invented eel farming in recirculated systems in 1980

And surely wanted to take part in sea farming of trout

Agriculture: Norsminde“Køkkenmødding”

4000 before BC: From hunter/gatherer to farmer

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Great Expectations

In the late seventies: Many Sea Farms

established Lot’s of optimism Booming business The Start of a Trout

Cluster?

Dead Lobsters

Also in the late Seventies: Increasing fertiliser output

from agriculture Oxygen deficit in coastal

waters Lobsters dying Big outcry, clean water

act: STOP Seafarming

1 Billion Nkr. Month

Danish Sea Farming fell asleep: 8000 t fish/yr=300

mio.DKR

Norwegian fish farming boomed 500.000 t fish/yr=1 bio.

NKr/Month!

The Revenge of the Civil Servants

Denmark is not Corrupt! However, civil servants may

have their own agendas All kinds of disproportionate

information were put forward

Also from NGO’s And the Industry kept quiet

Aquaculture in Denmark Stagnated

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Trout Mariculture European eel

Stagnation! Caused by (Valid) Environmental Concerns

What Did We Miss?

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Saltvand Seatrout Seatrout cb

Exports to the Value of 1/2 of a Great Belt Bridge!

Science is Conquering

The Sea farm Industry fought back

With good solid science

And the winds started to change

The Seafarm Committee, Spring 2003

Initiative from a multipartisan parlamentary Network

Recommends growth in Danish Sea Farming

With due respect for environmental concerns

The national and local politicians are discussing what to do

25.000 km2 fit for sea farming

The Dilemma

Promoting Growth, Production, Exports and Employment

Vs. Increased Environmental Stress

Not an easy choice in these years of oxygen problems in Danish Waters

Oxygen in Danish Waters Today at 12:00

What Do the Sea Farmers Want?

Room to produce what the market demands

Up to 100.000 tons trout produced

Decoupling of production and environmental impact

The limit is market and space:100.000 tons ? 200.000 tons? Musholm Lax: 3.000 t/yr

What Do the NGO’s Want?

Even a small increase in load is too much

NIMBY (NIMCO): All seafarms to Norway or Chile?

Landbased farms Denmark to live off IT,

biotech & entertainment?

The Solution Is Increased Environmental Efficiency

Agriculture Freshwater Mariculture

2000, after H. SchrøderSales tDkr 50.000.000 700.000 250.000N-loss to nature Tons 380.000 500 300N-Efficiency Mio. Dkr/tons 0,12 1,4 1,1

Agriculture can increase production? Why not Aquaculture?

Sea Farm N-Efficiency

Mariculture & Environment

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Produktion Kvælstof Linear (Kvælstof)

Mariculture & Environment in Denmark

Area Demand: 2 km2 = 0.02 ppt of the Danish territorial waters

Organic load impact below and close to the cages

250 tons N/yr: app. 2 ppt of the net flux of N through the Danish waters

Dilution is a Solution

Not seen as political correct, but it works

And is always part of any full solution: Harremoes, Ambio, 96

The SFC recommends the location of seafarms at more exposed and less sensitive locations

Other Solutions

Continuous increases in food and feeding efficiency

Sludge removal? More accurate

Environmental Management: The Virtual Sea Farm

Landbased farms: is not a solution: Energy,Finances

SFC Recommends Catch Cultures: Mussels & Macroalgae