USSEC Southeast Asia investigates potential models that could be used to estimate the carrying capacities of common bodies of water for sustainable aquaculture production. In a recent workshop in Indonesia, Dave Bengtson, Ph.D., of the University of Rhode Island, worked with Gede Sumiarsa, Ph.D., USSEC aquaculture local coordinator, to study the maximum allowable production in a body of water.
A body of water, such as a lake, reservoir, bay or river, and its carrying capacity has four major considerations: physical, production, ecological and social. Unfortunately, fish farmers are often misled that bodies of water should maximize instead of optimize fish production. Waste from rapid aquaculture development affects the production and life span of inland and coastal waters. If farmers continue to solely focus on increasing the number of fish produced, their business cannot be sustained.
Bengtson also emphasized the importance of better soy-based feeds and feeding methods during the workshop. Similar study trips have been conducted to see if potential modeling approaches can be used to regulate aquaculture locally, nationally and regionally.