The Sustainable Aquaculture Initiative

The Sustainable Aquaculture Initiative is a project at the Marine Biological Laboratory that promotes innovative and sustainable fish farming solutions.

Malnutrition—affecting millions of people in tropical countries—is inextricably linked to problems in food production and distribution. One solution is to foster local, small-scale sustainable agricultural projects. We promote fish farming methods that meet these requirements while providing relatively high yield protein and a valuable income source.

Our current work is concentrated in Haiti. Dependence on expensive imported manufactured fish feed has proved to be decidedly unsustainable in many cases in Haiti. Several years ago the Sustainable Aquaculture Initiative was launched at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) to develop plant-based fish diets and improved pond management protocols in L’Acul , and the nearby mountain region southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Our goal was then—as has remained—to offer prospective Haitian fish farmer methods for producing fish using exclusively local resources.

After many trials, challenges and adventures, our Haitian partners are successfully harvesting fish from previously fallow ponds. We have now expanded our activities to different areas in Haiti and the US. Doing so has brought us into contact with numerous other people and organizations doing work that complements our own efforts. Serving the MBL’s mission of improving the human condition, in addition to our fish farming we are developing a range of biologically based auxiliary technologies and resources that will improve daily life in developing countries.

The Sustainable Aquaculture Initiative depends on donations to continue its work in Haiti and at the Marine Resources Center. Your donation can help us continue our research in optimizing sustainable aquaculture practices for tropical countries as well as build additional Aquaculture Learning Centers throughout Haiti.

https://connect.mbl.edu/supportSAI

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