Citizen 2 – Li, mariculture enterprise manager
The company has reached a milestone! We can now grow a range of
different species through our improved knowledge of Integrated Multi
Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA). The latest guidelines for IMTA have really
helped us identify which species to grow together, and how best to work
with our commercial partners to optimise both production and
environmental benefits, not to mention the skills sharing and workforce
stability benefits. This has made the regions where IMTA is practised
much better places to live and work – and to get stable year round
jobs. Our polyculture of shrimp and bivalve filter feeders, like oysters
and clams, reduces the discharge of suspended organic matter and other
pollutants from our shrimp culture ponds. We have overcome the problems
associated with efficiency, high space requirements and bivalve deaths
from the high concentration of nitrogen from nitrite and ammonia. The
company is also now diversifying and investing in waste management to
develop nutritional ingredients from previously waste products. A large
amount of our products were ending up in side-streams, mostly used for
low-value animal feed or disposed of, which was costly for us. Along
with our animals, we now also produce high protein-based food
ingredients, aromatic ingredients and mineral supplements for food and
feed.
Pathway 4 - Collaboration for knowledge transfer
Co-production of knowledge on seafood sustainability and adaptation
between traditional fishers, scientists and fisheries managers has
resulted in wide-scale implementation of new technology, as well as the
uptake of traditional management approaches (Norström et al. 2020).
Co-production of environmentally sound knowledge and technologies has
reduced inequalities in capability and improved the sustainability and
productivity of fisheries and mariculture (Österblom et al. 2017; Stoll
et al. 2019). There has been targeted engagement by managers, fishers
and coastal communities around strategies for responding and adapting to
change. Adaptive management frameworks have been implemented with a
focus on strategic planning across sectors, and multisector approaches
to ocean management that take into account the needs and trade-offs of a
broad range of potential users across productive areas as well as
sustainability of the environment (Allison et al. 2020).
National institutions have been strengthened through international
cooperation, and capacity building has occurred at all levels. The
ability of governments to make and implement coherent policies that
account for social, economic and environmental goals has been enhanced
through the building of pathways that facilitate a two-way exchange of
information between society, science and policy makers (Posner and
Cvitanovic 2019). Agreements have been established between small and
large enterprises to make relevant information for decision making
broadly available. Participation of indigenous peoples in planning,
management and policy making has been supported (see for e.g. CAUL
2015), allowing for the inclusion of traditional knowledge and methods
into new operational, feed and nutrition technologies (Groesbeck et al.
2014; Jackley et al. 2016; Neudorf et al. 2017) and diversification of
management frameworks to recognise cultural values and approaches (Box
4). Associated research and developments have led to improvements in
efficiency, environmental sustainability and human health benefits of
mariculture systems (Stentiford et al. 2020). Increased sharing across
researchers, industry, government and international organisations has
increased transparency and equity across industries, providing for
increased widespread understanding and associated support within broader
society.