Why regional seafood is the future

About the need for change

Why regional seafood is the future

About the need for change

The rapidly increasing global hunger for seafood is leading to an ever-increasing plunder of the world's oceans. For a long time, the wealth of the world's oceans was considered inexhaustible - unfortunately an illusion. Global overfishing is now considered one of the greatest threats to the health of the oceans and the survival of its inhabitants. Almost everywhere today, more fish and seafood are caught than can grow back naturally.

Germany reached the “End of Fish Day” in March 2024, five alarming weeks earlier than in 2019. The “End of Fish Day” marks the calculated day on which available German fish reserves from the North and Baltic Seas for the entire year have been used up. This means that by the end of the year fish consumption must be covered by fishing in other seas. Germany's dependence on imports grows with every year.

Given these alarming developments and the need to rethink how we treat the oceans and their inhabitants, irresponsible fishing and conventional farming are rightly coming under increasing criticism.

Garnelenzucht in Asien mit Blick auf Teich

Spotlight: Conventional Breeding

Conventional shrimp farming is the traditional method of industrially breeding shrimp. It is a process that is mainly carried out in tropical regions such as Asia, Africa and South America. This method involves raising shrimp on a large scale in specially designed breeding facilities.

It is particularly in the spotlight of criticism because it not only causes ecological devastation, but also poses health risks.

To be part of a solution, we need to take a closer look at the challenges of this method while exploring sustainable solutions.

Spotlight: Conventional Breeding

Conventional shrimp farming is the traditional method of industrially breeding shrimp. It is a process that is mainly carried out in tropical regions such as Asia, Africa and South America. This method involves raising shrimp on a large scale in specially designed breeding facilities.

It is particularly in the spotlight of criticism because it not only causes ecological devastation, but also poses health risks.

To be part of a solution, we need to take a closer look at the challenges of this method while exploring sustainable solutions.

The challenges of conventional shrimp farming

The hidden cost - A look behind the scenes of ecological destruction

A disastrous game with nature

Originating primarily from coastal areas of Asia and Latin America, much of the shrimp farming has wreaked ecological havoc in recent years. The mangrove forests, as vital links between land and sea, are affected. Clearing mangroves for shrimp ponds not only means losing an ecological gem, but also protection against erosion and tropical storms. Exotic crabs introduced for shrimp farming also threaten genetic diversity and contribute to the spread of disease. The damage caused by humans doesn't stop here - wild-caught shrimp also leave their mark: On the open sea, fine-meshed nets not only catch shrimp, but also up to 100 fish per farmed shrimp. This bycatch even exceeds the often harmful trawling.

A disastrous game with nature

Originating primarily from coastal areas of Asia and Latin America, much of the shrimp farming has wreaked ecological havoc in recent years. The mangrove forests, as vital links between land and sea, are affected. Clearing mangroves for shrimp ponds not only means losing an ecological gem, but also protection against erosion and tropical storms. Exotic crabs introduced for shrimp farming also threaten genetic diversity and contribute to the spread of disease. The damage caused by humans doesn't stop here - wild-caught shrimp also leave their mark: On the open sea, fine-meshed nets not only catch shrimp, but also up to 100 fish per farmed shrimp. This bycatch even exceeds the often harmful trawling.

The threatening reality behind shrimp ponds

But shrimp farming also causes environmental damage far away from the sea and coast. In Southeast Asia, rice farmers are fighting against the salinization of their fields, which is caused by the intensive use of coastal regions for saltwater shrimp ponds. Urgently needed drinking water is becoming scarce, and in India, Taiwan, Thailand, Ecuador and the Philippines, salinization of the soil is already a reality.

Many conventional and uncertified shrimp farms can pose an ecological burden on our environment and our health. Without trustworthy sources, it is often difficult today to ensure that the shrimp on our plates do not come from industrial ponds that are repeatedly affected by disease and rely on the use of antibiotics and pesticides.

The threatening reality behind shrimp ponds

But shrimp farming also causes environmental damage far away from the sea and coast. In Southeast Asia, rice farmers are fighting against the salinization of their fields, which is caused by the intensive use of coastal regions for saltwater shrimp ponds. Urgently needed drinking water is becoming scarce, and in India, Taiwan, Thailand, Ecuador and the Philippines, salinization of the soil is already a reality.

Many conventional and uncertified shrimp farms can pose an ecological burden on our environment and our health. Without trustworthy sources, it is often difficult today to ensure that the shrimp on our plates do not come from industrial ponds that are repeatedly affected by disease and rely on the use of antibiotics and pesticides.

The controversy over antibiotic residues and import bans

The excessive use of these substances increases the risk of antibiotic resistance, which is illegally imported as residues in the shrimp. Import bans and regular rejections at EU borders are the result. Of course, there are also environmentally friendly shrimp in organic quality and without the use of antibiotics, from farms or from controlled wild catches. However, not on a scale that would be sufficient to meet the global demand for shrimp.

The controversy over antibiotic residues and import bans

The excessive use of these substances increases the risk of antibiotic resistance, which is illegally imported as residues in the shrimp. Import bans and regular rejections at EU borders are the result. Of course, there are also environmentally friendly shrimp in organic quality and without the use of antibiotics, from farms or from controlled wild catches. However, not on a scale that would be sufficient to meet the global demand for shrimp.

Garnelenzucht in Asien - Qualitätskontrolle

The seafood industry has already begun to develop alternative methods to protect our natural ecosystem while meeting the global demand for fish and seafood. The use of innovative technologies such as land-based farming of fish and seafood was also recognized early on by our founder Dr. Fabian Riedel. Instead of starting a career as a lawyer, he decided to develop a sustainable shrimp farm in Munich and set the first milestone for the first land-based European shrimp farm by founding the company Crusta Nova, which is now divided into the companies HONEST CATCH and Oceanloop.

Bavarian Shrimp - A sustainable product with a sense of responsibility

The shrimp from Oceanloop farms are not only a culinary delight, but also a step towards environmentally friendly and ethical shrimp production. Certification according to "traceability" and "biosecurity" standards guarantees not only the highest quality, but also transparency and safety for consumers.

Closed aquaculture farms for fish or seafood, also known as recirculating systems or RAS systems (Recirculating Aquaculture System), have an integrated water treatment unit that continuously mechanically and biologically cleans the runoff water from the breeding tanks. This means that chemicals are 100% eliminated. The water is then enriched with oxygen and returned to the breeding tanks. Through repeated use of the water, the water requirement is dramatically reduced to approximately 1-2% of the total volume of the system.

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