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MRC» Outreach Program» Sustainable Aquaculture Initiative



Woods Hole Declaration on Culturing Fish with Low Resources April 5th, 2008 Woods Hole, Massachusetts In recent years, dramatic increases in living costs have highlighted long existing deficiencies in food security worldwide. The 2007 UNDP Human Development Report cites 2.6 billion people surviving on less than $2 per day. The World Bank estimates that in the last 2 years, 100 million more people have been pushed into poverty by rising food prices. It is widely recognized that medium and long-term solutions will depend on improving smallholder farming, thereby reducing dependence on outside resources and increasing self-sufficiency. Aquaculture is an important method to address nutritional deficiencies in developing countries, especially low input integrated aquaculture that utilizes the sun and locally available resources that produce valuable protein foods in a sustainable manner. On April 5th, 2008, a group of international scientists met at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA to discuss the progress and challenges of aquaculture for the poor in developing nations and concluded that: The use of local or on-farm resources for aquaculture production is important to help control the cost of living in developing countries, especially as people put further demands on dwindling non-renewable resources. Partnerships between research institutions and local organizations can work more effectively to solve issues that constrain farmer-centered food production by using appropriate technology in conjunction with social and economic incentives. Low input, ecological aquaculture and agriculture are a concern germane to all societies, not only the developing world. We therefore commit to: Establish institutional partnerships between researchers, governments, philanthropic organizations and foundations to ensure appropriate long-term commitments are met to promote the growth of ecological aquaculture. Involve local and regional communities and farmer groups in developing nations as indispensable agents of socio-cultural wisdom to implement successful programs. Improve the communication among research and outreach organizations to share existing knowledge and build upon past successes. Representatives from the following institutions were present: Marine Biological Laboratory Hydros Environmental Diagnostics University of Rhode Island Baystate Environmental Consultants Australis Aquaculture Aquaculture Assessments UMASS Policy Center, Marine Bioscience and Technology Weill Medical College of Cornell Agricultural Research Organization (Israel) Las Lianas Resource Center John Todd Ecological Design University of Vermont Bangladesh Agricultural University Ecologic – Woods Hole

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