Aquaculture

More than 50% of all fish we consume is farmed. Aquaculture can produce healthy, high quality food with limited environmental impact, creating jobs and prosperity, if done sustainably.

IDH works in countries where the aquaculture sector has been established for centuries, as well as in countries where there is potential and need for more locally farmed fish.

Do more with less

To increase the sustainability of the sector in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Ecuador, disease and feed issues must be tackled.

Diseases result in loss of income, waste of inputs and irresponsible practices like the excessive use of antimicrobials. Disease occurrence threatens farmers long-term business. As a result, investors are reluctant to make long term (sustainable) investments.

Feed has an effect on people, planet and profit. It is the biggest cost in aquaculture production; it is sometimes used ineffciently; and may contain marine ingredients such as fish oil and fish meal which may be come from illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fisheries.

IDH tackles these issues by strengthening partnerships, supporting innovation and driving investment into more sustainable production.

Local food

Most often people in poorer countries without a fish farming history, such as Mozambique and Haiti, do eat fish. Although traditionally fish were caught locally, demand is increasingly been satisfied through seafood imports, depriving the country of much needed jobs and economic growth. To develop a well-functioning aquaculture sector knowledge and skills, quality of inputs and access to finance are needed.

IDH strengthens hubs that can provide knowledge, quality inputs and access to markets and investment to small and medium scale producers.

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Our approach

Building on experiences with our landscape and commodity programs we are developing aquascapes.

We improve production by strengthening partnerships as to develop joint strategies. We organize cooperation between producers and local governments and with experts that can
support in health management or can conduct market, gender, or carrying capacity studies.

We support innovation by promoting the use of technology and data to increase sector efficiency, traceability and transparency.

We strengthen partnerships and innovation and build and execute innovative finance mechanisms to drive investment into reduced production risks and increased commercial viability. This results in more sustainable production, attracting increased commercial investment over the longer-term.

We encourage market recognition of lower risk areas, leading to Verified Sourcing Areas which enable buyers to accelerate their demand for sustainable products at scale. We also encourage the development of local and regional markets by taking a Value Chain Development approach.