News

Hong Kong tries out high-rise fish farms

Monday, October 14, 2013, 11:16 AM -

With the demand for live seafood as high as ever, Hong King is one of several cities floating the idea of fish farms in high-rise buildings.

Aquaculture is nothing new, but the need for it in Hong Kong is growing, given declining fish stocks. Fishermen sometimes have to search for live fish hundreds of kilometres away, with perhaps as little as five per cent of catches coming from local waters.

By contrast, 80 per cent come from fish farms in and around the city.

Aquaculture is practiced by nations worldwide - in Canada, the industry accounted for 14 per cent of total seafood production, valued at almost $1 billion in 2010.

What seems to be a new development is high-rise fish farms -- the one above boasts 80,000 tonnes of water, and is located on the 15th flood of an industrial building.

It's designed to be environmentally friendly, and its owners expect big things. The fish currently being grown there could fetch as much as $100 per kilogram, with prices rising 10-15 per cent per year.

Not quite fish, but if you're in the mood for animal videos, there're plenty in our online galleries.