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The scarcity of freshwater resources is a major issue in the 21th Century, which results in increasing competition among water users. New approaches are required in freshwater aquaculture development to meet the challenges, since “business as usual” scenarios will no longer be possible.
A great variety of freshwater aquaculture systems are operated in Europe, from extensive ponds to minimal discharge recirculation plants. Their specific water requirement (i.e. the amount of water required for the production of 1 kg fish) is also variable, within a wide range from 100 litres to 1000 cubic meters. Examples indicate clearly that both water use efficiency and water productivity within aquaculture systems could be greatly improved through technology development. The development of water efficient recirculation aquaculture systems is a priority area in freshwater aquaculture development.
Reducing the water requirement (and thus, being able to produce more fish in less water) contributes greatly to the improvement of competitiveness of the sector; however, there is also a need for better communication and possible collaboration between other stakeholders of the “water affairs” among them various water users, water suppliers, regulators and the public. The application of integrated aquaculture technologies may also offer possibilities to alleviate conflicts among water users. Multi-functional pond fish farms can also contribute to turn competition into collaboration through providing services for other water users like recreation and environment protection.
Laszlo Varadi holds a PhD. degree in aquaculture (thesis: development of integrated aquaculture systems). Since 1975 he has been involved in aquaculture development projects both in Hungary and also in developing countries as consultant, mainly for FAO. He has been the director of the Research Institute of Fisheries, Aquacultute and Irrigation at Szarvas since 1991. He is Chairman of the Aquaculture Sub-Commission of the FAO European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission (EIFAC), and the Eastern Europe Committee of the European Aquaculture Society.
Contact details: Research Institute for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Irrigation;
P.O.B. 47, 5541 Szarvas, Hungary Tel: +36 66 515 302; Fax: +36 66 312 142;
E-mail: varadil@haki.hu Internet: www.haki.hu
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