Future of Aquaculture

The future of aquaculture is shaped by food demand, environmental requirements, technology and geography. Wild fisheries often cannot grow at the same pace as demand; at the same time societies want more traceable, local and controlled production. That drives investment in land-based systems, better water treatment, digital operations and circular flows - not least in Europe and the Nordic countries.

Land-based, semi-flow and precision

Land-based RAS and semi-flow-through grow where permits, biosecurity or market proximity favour controlled culture. Precision tools - sensors, automation, AI for feeding and biomass, digital twins - reduce risk and improve FCR and energy use. Hybrid models (hatchery and juveniles on land, on-growing in cages or the reverse) remain important where they deliver the best economics and lower environmental risk.

Circular economy and sustainability

• More land-based farms near consumers and power grids.
• AI for feeding, biomass and early disease warning.
• Circular sludge handling and nutrient recovery (fertiliser, HTC, digestion).
• Genetics, triploidy and improved welfare.
• Integration with renewables and waste heat.
• Stricter discharge rules that favour treatment technology and traceability.

Feed remains the large environmental and cost factor. Future feeds mix more alternative proteins and oils, while culture of herbivorous and omnivorous species can reduce dependence on fishmeal. Technology export - water treatment, oxygen, UV/ozone, monitoring - becomes a growth engine beside fish production itself.

Circular food ecosystems

The future of aquaculture may not consist of isolated farms producing a single species. Instead, future systems could become highly integrated biological ecosystems where nutrients, carbon and energy are continuously recycled between multiple organisms.

Microalgae and macroalgae (seaweed/kelp) are expected to play a central role. Using sunlight or renewable energy, algae can convert carbon dioxide and nutrients into valuable biomass rich in proteins, oils, vitamins and minerals. This biomass can then serve as feed for the next level of the food chain.

Crustaceans such as shrimp, freshwater prawns and certain filter-feeding species can utilise algae-derived feeds, while herbivorous and omnivorous fish species such as carp, tilapia and some catfish can efficiently convert plant-based ingredients into high-quality animal protein. Because these species are lower on the food chain, they generally require less feed input than carnivorous fish.

Predatory fish species such as salmon, trout, sea bass and tuna occupy higher trophic levels and require greater amounts of protein and energy. Future feed technologies may reduce reliance on wild fish resources by using ingredients derived from algae, insects, microbial protein and circular agriculture systems.

In the most advanced concepts, waste streams become resources. Fish waste and uneaten feed can be processed into fertiliser, biogas or nutrient concentrates. These nutrients can then support algae cultivation, hydroponic crops, aquatic plants and kelp production, creating a circular industrial ecosystem with minimal waste.

Food chain in a circular system

Sunlight / renewable energy
⬇️
Algae & kelp
⬇️
Crustaceans & insects
⬇️
Herbivorous & omnivorous fish (carp, tilapia)
⬇️
Carnivorous fish (salmon, trout, sea bass)
⬇️
Nutrients, sludge & organic residues
⬇️
Algae & kelp (recirculation)

Looking forward: Future aquaculture may increasingly resemble natural ecosystems, where nutrients continuously cycle through algae, plants, crustaceans, fish and microbial communities. Such systems could maximise food production while minimising freshwater use, waste generation and environmental impact. On Earth these closed-loop systems may improve sustainability and resource efficiency. In the future, similar concepts could support permanent human settlements on the Moon, Mars and beyond, where every litre of water and every gram of nutrients must be reused.

DABCE's long-term view - aquaculture in space

It may sound like science fiction, but aquaculture could become an important part of future food production in space. As humanity moves toward long-duration missions, lunar bases, and eventually settlements on Mars, astronauts will need reliable sources of fresh food that can be produced using limited water, energy and resources.

The first step will likely be algae cultivation. Microalgae grow quickly, require little space, consume carbon dioxide, and can produce proteins, vitamins, healthy fats and even oxygen. In many proposed life-support systems, algae are expected to play a key role in recycling nutrients and supporting human habitats.

As space agriculture becomes more advanced, aquaculture could expand beyond algae. Herbivorous and omnivorous fish such as carp may become attractive candidates because they efficiently convert plant-based feeds into high-quality protein. Unlike carnivorous fish that require feed made from other fish, carp can thrive on algae, aquatic plants, insects and other renewable food sources that could potentially be produced within a closed-loop space ecosystem.

Future space farms may combine hydroponics, algae cultivation, insect production and fish farming into a single integrated food system. Nutrients from fish waste could fertilise crops, while plants and algae help clean and recycle water. Such circular systems could dramatically reduce the need for resupply from Earth.

Perhaps one day, recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) will not only produce fish on Earth but also support human settlements millions of kilometres away. The future of aquaculture may be truly out of this world - from FlowFarm on Earth to closed loops in space. The technology we develop now - water treatment, gas balance, monitoring and circular flows - is the same set of building blocks.

Aquaculture Readiness Level (ARL)

Not an official standard, just DABCE having a little fun. But there is a serious point behind it: whether supporting fish on Earth, a habitat on Mars, or a future station beyond the Kuiper Belt, the challenge is fundamentally the same. Build systems that recycle water, recover nutrients, minimise waste and keep life thriving in a closed loop. ♻️

ARL = Aquaculture Readiness Level. Earth: serious status. Space: vision - with carp as the favourite "space fish" candidate.