Let's divert our attention from the harsh reality that is whaling and the big bad wolf, and focus on something new, okay, not so new, but at least positive and shiny: aquaponic.
Aquaponic is and I quote, "a combination of aquaculture, or fish cultivation, and hydroponics, or water-based planting — utilizes a symbiotic relationship between fish and plants." Essentially, aquaponic is a fish farm with plants, worms and fish. Plants provide water filtration for fish and food for worms, and the worms, in turn, become food for the fish. To complete the cycle of life, fish waste becomes nutrient to plants, supporting its growth. Aquaponic is practically a miniature ecosystem that happens to be sustainable.
The article I read, "Fish Farms, With a Side of Green," named a few places with aquaponic, but the most impressive one is Barbados. Barbados is an island nation in the western North Atlantic Ocean and east of the Caribbean Sea. Long story short, Barbados is in the middle of nowhere and imports majority of her food. However, in today's world (in my opinion), with the price of oil above the roof and unsustainable farming, importation just doesn't work in the long run. Imagine what Barbados can do if she is self-sustainable. I mean, not everyone likes to have fish on the menu on a daily menu, but it is definitely more economically viable. Of course, this is just me talking and I am no expert on economy.
And guess what, aquaponic is not invented by the modern world. The Aztecs actually had been planting in fish ponds centuries before we did. Who would have thought, right?
Here is the link to the article if anyone is interested.
-Tom (Tsz Hang) Lee
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