Aquarium Debuts National Geographic Photographer’s Exhibit on Aquaculture
A young Panamanian hand lines for wild fish that gather near the sub-surface structure of a fish farm's inshore nursery cages. Credit: © Brian Skerry
October 5, 2018
A photography exhibit by National Geographic photographer Brian Skerry will be on display for the first time at the Aquarium from October 8 through December 8, 2018. The exhibit, Aquaculture, features photographs of aquaculture or seafood farming practices from around the world.
Aquaculture is the seafood equivalent of agriculture, and includes growing finfish, shellfish, and seaweed. Skerry’s exhibit depicts many different types of aquaculture, from an underwater kelp and scallop farm off Canada’s Vancouver Island to catfish ponds in Mississippi. The photos also depict offshore aquaculture in the form of Aquapods™ used to grow shrimp in Mexico and SeaStations™ used to farm a species of fish called cobia in Panama. “I once believed that aquaculture was not good for the environment. I now see it as a solution to some of the problems in Earth’s oceans, including the decline of wild fish stocks and the global need for fish protein. By targeting the best species to raise and using eco-friendly methods, aquaculture can improve the health of the ocean,” Skerry said.
The Aquarium highlights responsible marine aquaculture as a promising opportunity to increase the amount of healthy food available to the planet’s growing human population in a manner that supports healthy ecosystems and communities. “Responsible marine aquaculture is just one component of a diverse portfolio of sustainable food solutions that we will need to ensure a safe, healthy, and secure food supply for future generations,” said Kim Thompson, Aquarium of the Pacific Seafood for the Future program manager.
