Aquaculture was initially based on the raising of sea fish in fish ponds. Over the years, this method resulted in the copying and worsening of traditional farming problems to aquaculture, including:

 

• Outbreaks of disease and contamination

• Massive energy consumption

• Need for large areas of land and the consumption of large quantities of fresh water

• Environmental damage

• Ever rising growing costs

 

These factors have seriously affected the quality of fish, the efficiency of raising them, and the narrowing of profit margins, sometime to the point that it is not worthwhile as a business. In some cases, the severe environmental damage has also delayed or prevented the use of fish ponds.

 

As a result, a new trend has emerged to raise fish close to shore. Most of this activity currently takes place in fixed cages at ports, bays, and fiords close to shore, protected from stormy seas. 

 

Over time, the raising of fish in cages close to the shore or in bays has caused severe ecological problems in the bays and fiords. They include contamination, disease, increased fish mortality, and severe damage to marine ecology, quality of the environment, and tourism.