Political Crossfire Forums

[rabidsquirrel]

The rate at which fish raised in commercial fish farms grow is astonishingly fast due to the growth hormones the fish are fed. Not only are fish farms potentially dangerous (the long-term effect on humans of the growth hormones used is unknown), but they may also be environmentally unsound.

Anyone more educated on the subject have any thoughts?

[David]

You need to post a link proving that the problem actually exists.

[perdidochas]

rabidsquirrel wrote: The rate at which fish raised in commercial fish farms grow is astonishingly fast due to the growth hormones the fish are fed. Not only are fish farms potentially dangerous (the long-term effect on humans of the growth hormones used is unknown), but they may also be environmentally unsound.

Anyone more educated on the subject have any thoughts?

1) My brother has a Ph.D. in fisheries and aquaculture. I can't recall him mentioning that they fed growth hormones.

2) In a quick web search, I've found no evidence of such.

3) I have found that they may be feeding too much antibiotics to fish, though. That, and the farmed fish may be spreading disease into the wild populations.

4) Do you have evidence that growth hormones are being put into fish farm food.

[TNBiologist]

perdidochas wrote: rabidsquirrel wrote: The rate at which fish raised in commercial fish farms grow is astonishingly fast due to the growth hormones the fish are fed. Not only are fish farms potentially dangerous (the long-term effect on humans of the growth hormones used is unknown), but they may also be environmentally unsound.

Anyone more educated on the subject have any thoughts?

1) My brother has a Ph.D. in fisheries and aquaculture. I can't recall him mentioning that they fed growth hormones.

2) In a quick web search, I've found no evidence of such.

3) I have found that they may be feeding too much antibiotics to fish, though. That, and the farmed fish may be spreading disease into the wild populations.

4) Do you have evidence that growth hormones are being put into fish farm food.

I have a BS in fisheries from TTU and my best friend is finishing his MS in aquaculture raising cobia at Southern Miss. I know of no fish farms that feed their fish hormones. The only thing I have ever seen or fed fish is commercial fish chow that does not contain any hormones. The only thing I hknow of that is given brood stock (the breeder fish not the marketable fish) is HGP to induce reproduction. These are not the fish that are sold at market but the ones used to continue the farm. Antibiotics are used to fight off desease and fungus, no worse than what people use on a daily basis. Fish farms are one of the few sustainable fisheries practices.

[Winchester]

TNBiologist wrote: perdidochas wrote: rabidsquirrel wrote: The rate at which fish raised in commercial fish farms grow is astonishingly fast due to the growth hormones the fish are fed. Not only are fish farms potentially dangerous (the long-term effect on humans of the growth hormones used is unknown), but they may also be environmentally unsound.

Anyone more educated on the subject have any thoughts?

1) My brother has a Ph.D. in fisheries and aquaculture. I can't recall him mentioning that they fed growth hormones.

2) In a quick web search, I've found no evidence of such.

3) I have found that they may be feeding too much antibiotics to fish, though. That, and the farmed fish may be spreading disease into the wild populations.

4) Do you have evidence that growth hormones are being put into fish farm food.

I have a BS in fisheries from TTU and my best friend is finishing his MS in aquaculture raising cobia at Southern Miss. I know of no fish farms that feed their fish hormones. The only thing I have ever seen or fed fish is commercial fish chow that does not contain any hormones. The only thing I hknow of that is given brood stock (the breeder fish not the marketable fish) is HGP to induce reproduction. These are not the fish that are sold at market but the ones used to continue the farm. Antibiotics are used to fight off desease and fungus, no worse than what people use on a daily basis. Fish farms are one of the few sustainable fisheries practices.

One of the problems we have with fisheries around here is the spread of disease. Many rivers/lakes/streams are planted with fish by the FWP service. Hatcheries can be a breeding place for diseases and they are spread when the fish are planted. We have had real problems with whirling desease in some of the fish populations in our state. But they (the FWP) is working on the problem.

Don't know squat about commercial fisheries and their practices though.

[TNBiologist]

Winchester wrote: TNBiologist wrote: perdidochas wrote: rabidsquirrel wrote: The rate at which fish raised in commercial fish farms grow is astonishingly fast due to the growth hormones the fish are fed. Not only are fish farms potentially dangerous (the long-term effect on humans of the growth hormones used is unknown), but they may also be environmentally unsound.

Anyone more educated on the subject have any thoughts?

1) My brother has a Ph.D. in fisheries and aquaculture. I can't recall him mentioning that they fed growth hormones.

2) In a quick web search, I've found no evidence of such.

3) I have found that they may be feeding too much antibiotics to fish, though. That, and the farmed fish may be spreading disease into the wild populations.

4) Do you have evidence that growth hormones are being put into fish farm food.

I have a BS in fisheries from TTU and my best friend is finishing his MS in aquaculture raising cobia at Southern Miss. I know of no fish farms that feed their fish hormones. The only thing I have ever seen or fed fish is commercial fish chow that does not contain any hormones. The only thing I hknow of that is given brood stock (the breeder fish not the marketable fish) is HGP to induce reproduction. These are not the fish that are sold at market but the ones used to continue the farm. Antibiotics are used to fight off desease and fungus, no worse than what people use on a daily basis. Fish farms are one of the few sustainable fisheries practices.

One of the problems we have with fisheries around here is the spread of disease. Many rivers/lakes/streams are planted with fish by the FWP service. Hatcheries can be a breeding place for diseases and they are spread when the fish are planted. We have had real problems with whirling desease in some of the fish populations in our state. But they (the FWP) is working on the problem.

Don't know squat about commercial fisheries and their practices though.

Yoru right that hatcheries are breeding grounds for disease but most responsible hatcher managers will sacrifice any diseased fish prior to release. Even then some diseased fish do get released but I have not heard of any major fish kills in the wild do to this. fish farms are the only way to maintain and meet the commercial demand for some species such as catfish and tolapia.