Ecological Freshwater Farming for the Twenty First Century

Under the onslaught of massive human intervention and intensive methods of production, which burden and unbalance our natural ecosystems, the terrestrial and aquatic environments are now showing demonstrable signs that they can no longer maintain their ecological integrity and stability.

Water as a resource, (that is apart from irrigation and livestock drinking requirements), has for too long been both overlooked and misunderstood. In general, agricultural education institutions do not encourage farmers to preserve or to exploit the possibilities of this important natural resource. There have been many cases where modern agriculture has led to a misuse of natural watercourses, whether through neglect or a lack of understanding of the full impacts that some arable and livestock systems can create.

Farming practice has improved significantly in recent years in its awareness of the importance of even the smallest ditches, drains and streams. Nevertheless, further targeted work needs to be done to bring water pollution down to sustainable levels and for the greater part ditches and streams are still regarded primarily as a means for transporting water rather than their role as a habitat capable of sustaining a diversity of aquatic life.

Chemical pollution from agriculture has taken its toll on the microscopic invertebrates that inhabit our streams and rivers. These small but embryonic watercourses are where aquatic life and the important food webs are first nurtured. Poisoning at this end of the food chain has been devastating, reducing water quality in all but the remotest river catchments. It is estimated that around 80% of UK fish stocks have declined in the last fifty years. Attempts by some agencies to redress the balance in these food chain depleted rivers by re-stocking fish, often following pollution incidents, has in some cases added to the stress on the aquatic food chain and has instead had a negative impact on these aquatic environments.

In addition, the practice of agricultural land drainage, whilst yielding more land for agriculture, has had some disastrous consequences for fresh water. It has removed the vital natural wetland filtration systems that once controlled water quality and accelerated the speed at which any leached chemicals or fertilizers enter the watercourses. Land drainage has also increased the sediment load and flow-rates in rivers and streams which, combined with higher rainfall patterns, now cause spate events, scouring river and streambeds, removing vital aquatic plants and depositing silt in the habitats of aquatic organisms. This has the effect of destabilising and diminishing the aquatic food chains, thereby reducing fish populations.

Whilst it is easy to point the finger of blame at farming, the depleted quality of our watercourses can be traced back to a market economy where the cheap cost of food production has ignored some of the hidden costs to the environment. However, the future presents opportunities for consumers and the markets they support to embrace the potential of healthy water as a means of production within our farms.

Hope for the environment and a way off the treadmill
Fortunately, there is now increasing interest in a more enlightened approach to water management and farmers are now recognizing the potential that lies within water as part of modern diversified parts of their farming business.
The first task when proposing a diversification scheme is the identification of a farm’s resources. Fresh water is one of the most important natural resources a farm can possess. It is the most versatile resource at your disposal and will produce far more than its terrestrial (soil) equivalent. It requires no heavy machinery and can be successfully managed to maintain its own ecological sustainability and longevity, whilst producing multiple crops of plants, fish and other important aquatic organisms.

A natural stream, river, lake, spring or pond can all be used for aquatic production of some kind. There are ways of cleaning water in streams, which can then be used and later returned in a better condition than when it is received, thereby enhancing the local aquatic environment and improving the watercourses.

As with all new ventures, it is important to assess the potential of your resources. Before embarking on any scheme, you will need to determine the quantity and quality of your water supply and whether this supply is continuous or fluctuating. A professional site evaluation should be carried out to ensure that your proposed project is viable.

You will also need to consider your market carefully - not only can you produce a wide range of ornamental aquatic plants, there are many edible plants, such as watercress and arrowhead, and multiple freshwater fish for the table including trout, grayling, perch, pikeperch and tench, all of which can form part of an integrated farm system.

Besides providing a worthwhile diversification for your farm business, an ecologically managed water resource will be an asset on any farm, attracting beneficial insects, creating a breeding ground for threatened small organisms and a providing a haven for wildlife. It will enhance your local environment and contribute to the process of restoring the aquatic biodiversity to local watercourses, increasing natural fish populations.

Laurence Hutchinson is Director of Freshwater Solutions and further information can be found at: www.ecological-aquaculture.co.uk

Ecological Freshwater Farming for the Twenty First Century

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