One thing that will help to support the demand for healthy, accessible food while reducing the impact on the environment is the Blue Revolution. This is a movement aiming to drastically increase aquaculture* production, help alleviate the pressure on the oceans ecosystem and provide sustainable seafood for millions.
*Note: Aquaculture is the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of fish, shellfish, algae, and other organisms in all types of water environments
In this post we’ll cover how the Blue Revolution started, why it’s important, and what you can do to help join the movement.
How did the Blue Revolution Begin?
Before we talk about the Blue Revolution, let’s review the Green Revolution. This period (during the 1960s and 1970s) was characterized by a large advancement in global agricultural practices which helped to massively increase the grain-based food supply. The use of modern technology and methods such as such high yielding variety (HYV) seeds, tractors, irrigation facilities, pesticides, and fertilizer made this revolution possible.
Subsequently, the Blue Revolution signifies the emergence of aquaculture as the newest and increasingly most important practice to improve the food supply.
Before the 1980s, food supply from aquaculture was sparse. However, as time went on, overfishing increased, leaving our oceans depleted. The idea of aquaculture presented a unique way to stabilize food supply without further ruining the ocean. Per the State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture Report, aquaculture has been the fastest growing food production sector in the world since 2000. Currently, farmed seafood products represent over 50% of all seafood production.