Farming the Seas 2004
Distributed by Bullfrog Films, PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547; 800-543-FROG (3764)
Produced by Steve Cowan and Barry Schienberg and Habitat Media
Director n/a
VHS, color, 56 min.
Jr. High - Adult
Biology, Fisheries, Aquaculture, Environmental Studies, Science
Date Entered: 05/27/2005
Reviewed by Barbara Butler, University of Oregon Institute of Marine BiologyMany believe that aquaculture is a viable alternative to harvesting wild fish and shellfish from the ocean. In their sequel to award-winning Empty Oceans, Empty Nets PBS takes a close look at a variety of aquaculture operations. Farming the Seas includes interviews with fishery experts, excellent footage of aquaculture operations and is narrated by Peter Coyote.
Although a quarter of the seafood consumed world wide is now farm raised, problems associated with aquaculture have yet to be resolved. Given that over half of the world population lives within 100 miles of the shoreline, the demand for seafood is not likely to decline. Viewers will learn that aquaculture operations potentially harm wild stocks by exposing them to diseases and parasites; there is damaging pollution sometimes associated with high density aquaculture; unmonitored use of antibiotics in some foreign aquaculture may end up producing disease resistant bacteria; wild stocks can be threatened by farmed salmon that escape and colonize; the production of carnivorous species such as blue fin tuna can require 10 times their weight in feeder fish; and pollutants are concentrated in species that are higher in the food chain. In contrast, shrimp aquaculture in Hawaii and carp aquaculture in China were presented as clean and efficient farming systems. We are reminded the influence we have as consumers when we purchase seafood and the importance of knowing how our food was produced.
The producers note that this has been produced on DVD-R which is not compatible with some older DVD players. If a DVD-R does not work in your DVD player Bullfrog will exchange your DVD for a VHS copy of the program.
It is easy to see why Farming the Seas won the award for Best Marine Conservation Message at the International Wildlife Film Festival and a host of other awards as well. It is well researched, well edited and a timely and interesting look at the potential problems associated with aquaculture. I highly recommend this video to all libraries.