Promoting Ecosystem Aquaculture

Aquaculture produces nearly half of all aquatic animals for food and is projected to double its current production by 2050.

The aquaculture sector supports millions of people around the world, including many small-scale farmers in developing countries.

Yet, it also faces significant environmental and socioeconomic challenges, including habitat loss, nutrient loading, disease outbreaks, and the impact of feed-ingredient production on marine and terrestrial environments and producers.

SFP works with international markets, the seafood supply chain, and local communities to ensure a safe, reliable supply of farmed seafood, guided by our Framework for Sustainably Managed Aquaculture, which forms the basis of and is monitored by FishSource Aquaculture.

We prioritize major aquaculture countries — China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam — partnering with producers, NGOs, industry, and governments to promote sustainable practices and prevent disease outbreaks.

Our efforts are backed by SFP’s Asian Farmed Shrimp Supply Chain Roundtable, an industry-led coalition of top North American and European importers.

What is ecosystem aquaculture?

Ecosystem aquaculture supports industry, nature, and people by building more productive, resilient, and sustainable aquaculture supply chains within a shared landscape – creating a responsible sourcing area. It benefits not only farmers but also communities and other users of natural resources like land and water.

Habitat Regeneration

Coastal shrimp farming can support mangrove protection and restoration and the wealth of ecosystem services that mangroves provide.

Habitat Regeneration

Multiple circular marine net pens for farming fish, with a small supply boat nearby

Feed Solutions

SFP’s Feed Solutions Toolkit brings together tools, standards, and platforms from various organizations to help reduce risks and drive improvements to aquaculture feed and its ingredients.

Feed Solutions

Shrimp pond ringed by palm trees reflected in the water in Andhra Pradesh, India

Landscape Approach

The landscape approach to aquaculture management focuses on multi-stakeholder collaboration to advance shared sustainability goals and build resilience at scale.

Landscape approach

TAKE ACTION: Seafood Buyers

Identify where your farmed product comes from and track its performance using FishSource Aquaculture assessments.
Understand your risk with SFP’s Advisory Services.
Mobilize your supply chain to join a Supply Chain Roundtable.
Publicly disclose your sourcing with the Ocean Disclosure Project.
Identify opportunities to engage in habitat (mangrove) protection and restoration.

TAKE ACTION: Seafood Suppliers

Collaborate for success as part of a Supply Chain Roundtable.
Identify where your farmed product comes from and track its performance using Fish Source Aquaculture assessments.
Persuade your producers to start or join an aquaculture improvement effort, including landscape-level improvements.
Advocate for greater transparency on all aquaculture feed ingredients to identify potential climate and environmental risks.
Identify opportunities to engage in habitat (mangrove) protection and restoration.

TAKE ACTION: Seafood Producers

Organize and collaborate under or join aquaculture improvement efforts, including landscape-level improvements, to tackle priority environmental, social, and production issues.
Identify opportunities to engage in habitat (mangrove) protection and restoration.

Ensure a sustainable future for aquaculture

Learn more about how you can support ecosystem-based aquaculture management.

Contact SFP