08/25/2026
Many argue that fin-fish aquaculture is the only way to provide enough protein for our growing population. While the Sierra Club supports aquaculture in general as an alternative solution to overfishing and CAFOs, some operations are safer and healthier for the surrounding communities than others.
Open-net operations are among the riskiest developments on our oceans. They require nearly constant, rigorous maintenance and health monitoring to avoid the spread of disease and possibility of escape. When these systems fail, there is very little that can be done to reign in the consequences, and remediation often falls on the taxpayer, rather than the corporation.
Alternatives such as land-based, closed cycle operations are still new, but carry far less risk when held to high standards. While fish farming is certainly not a perfect solution, when adequately regulated and monitored it can prove beneficial to the market and surrounding communities. Furthermore, by making space for sustainable aquaculture development on our coastlines, we begin to address the risks and emissions of global transportation.
