Aquaculture metabolism: technology vs. ocean boundaries

The article analyzes the evolution of aquaculture as a response to the depletion of wild fish stocks, noting that it now accounts for over half of global aquatic animal production. The author disputes Rose George's thesis regarding the 'false promise' of farming, arguing that aquaculture is not a uniform system but a family of diverse production metabolisms. A key distinction is made between feed-dependent species and low-trophic organisms (mollusks, algae) that utilize the natural productivity of the environment. The text discusses the FIFO (Fish In: Fish Out) ratio in detail, explaining that while dependence on wild biomass remains a problem for predators, modern feeds and species diversification are significantly changing the industry's ecological balance.