If you enjoyed reading Fundamentals of Aquaculture by James W. Avault, published in 1996, you will find this book to be an informative update on the evolving science of aquaculture best management practices. Covered BMPs are consistent with most regulatory requirements. The first five chapters of Environmental Best Management Practices for Aquaculture emphasize the evolving science by differentiating between “best “and “better” management practices. These chapters illustrate that management practices will continue to improve and regulatory agencies should provide an environment that promotes innovative improvements and experimentation to reduce the potential environmental impacts and increase the sustainability of an aquaculture operation while potentially increasing profits. This can be accomplished through constructive relationships among regulators, academia, and the aquaculture business community. This is good advice for promoting scientifically based BMPs for lake management as well. As a student of consensus development among parties for nonpoint source BMP implementation, I appreciate and agree with the approach described.
Chapters six through eleven discuss BMPs for freshwater ponds, marine shrimp, net-pens, flow-through systems, recirculating systems, and bivalve molluscan aquaculture. The development of these BMPs were the result of a multiyear national dialogue beginning in the year 2000, to evaluate effluent management options for aquaculture facilities in the United States. Many of the 18 authors were involved in the leadership and provided technical expertise in this development. In 2001, a cooperative agreement was established among Federal Agencies and Mississippi State University to develop a summary white paper on these BMPs. The resulting white paper, Best Management Practices for Flow-Through, Net-Pen, Recalculating, and Pond Aquaculture Systems was published in the Federal Register in 2004 as the final aquaculture effluents rule and is used by many state regulatory programs. A year later, the USEPA permitted the white paper to be used as the basis for this book to assist the aquaculture industry, scientists, and policy makers to make informed decisions regarding the development and implementation of aquaculture BMPs. These chapters provide information that is time tested and widely accepted to create a sustainable aquaculture industry. Chapter twelve discusses fish diseases, pathogen transfer from farmed to wild fish populations, and the effects of disease treatments on nontarget populations. A lack of attention to pathogen transfer may result in catastrophic losses of stock and revenue. This discussion emphasizes developing and implementing a biosecurity plan to reduce pathogen introduction through management action, transfers among culture units in a facility, or transfer from the facility to other locations.
The last chapter focuses on the economics of aquaculture BMPs in the context of environmental regulation and business objectives. These BMPs are compared to other approaches designed to enhance environmental management and several empirical examples of BMPs in agriculture are highlighted. The chapter specifically examines economic aspects of BMPs recommended for marine shrimp, trout, hybrid striped bass, baitfish, and catfish production. The final section of this chapter compares the costs of various components of these BMPs. In addition, nine informative appendices are included that properly support the theme of the book.
Although the focus of the book is on BMPs for intensive aquaculture, the state-of-the-art scientific principles supporting many of the BMPs are relevant to lake management. Examples include chapters describing BMPs for freshwater ponds, net-pens, flow through systems and fish health management. This well written and documented book would be useful for anyone involved in managing water bodies, especially aquatic production for commercial or recreational purposes. To be better stewards of our resources we need to create sustainable aquatic production; this book is a timely milestone accomplishment towards that goal.