Agrarian Dreams for Salmon Aquaculture

• In Event: Feeding the Anthropocene: The Promises of Agro-Food Tech and the Difference of Food - I

Abstract

In this paper we focus on the promise of agri-food technology as it relates to the production of high value aquaculture, particularly salmon. Proponents argue that salmon aquaculture can address the problem of a growing global population. To meet this demand industry and other proponents are looking for agri-cultural solutions for aqua-cultural problems. We ask: what does it mean when aquatic worlds are re-imagined with terrestrial fixes? More specifically, we examine how agrarian technological fixes elide past agrarian frictions/failures. We examine two terrestrial fixes, to show the tensions inherent in the move to ‘land’ sea-based aqua-culture. First we examine how terrestrial based feed – vegetable proteins and oils, transgenic crops, land animal by products and insects – is presented as an alternative to pelagic fish, the traditional ingredient for aquafeed. The second terrestrial fix is in response to environmental pollution problems, which are driving industry to ‘land’ salmon tanks out of the ocean. Yet these agrarian/terrestrial techno-solutions are not without their challenges. As is the case for humans, when it comes to salmon feed there are ‘frictions of consumption’. Land animal by products, for example, show great potential for replacing fish meal and oil, but there is concern over consumer acceptance of feeding salmon terrestrially raised livestock. Similarly, moving salmon production onto land will not reduce environmental degradation. Ultimately, the move to agrarian techno-fixes illuminates how other more pressing concerns such as declining fisheries, restructured labour forces, corporate control and widespread destruction of aquatic (and terrestrial) environments are side-lined by terrestrial imaginaries, and the search to feed 9 billlion.

Authors

• Sarah Martin, Memorial University, Canada

• Charlie Mather, Department of Geography, Memorial University

• Christine Knott, Memorial University, Canada

• Dean Bavington, Memorial University, Canada