As the global population approaches 10 billion in the coming decades, producing enough food sustainably is a growing challenge. In the Amazon, aquaculture—the farming of fish and other aquatic species—is expanding rapidly. This growth offers a promising source of animal protein and economic opportunities, but also raises concerns about environmental impacts, especially biodiversity loss. Suresh A. Sethi, Director of AREAC at Brooklyn College, along with an international team, recently published a study in Nature Sustainability examining the environmental and social impacts of Amazonian aquaculture. Their research looks at key issues such as threats to biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and the livelihoods of local communities. The article outlines a roadmap for developing aquaculture in a way that supports food production, protects local ecosystems, and ensures fair social outcomes in one of the world’s richest freshwater biodiversity regions.
