Potential environmental impact resulting from biased fish sampling in intensive aquaculture operations

Aquaculture contributes to global food security, producing over 70 million tons of fish and aquatic products annually. Protein rich fish feeds, together with labor costs are the most expensive component costs in aquaculture. Feed application is given as percent of fish weight and therefore, reliable biomass assessment is essential for profitable and environmentally sound aquaculture. Fish biomass estimates are typically based on sampling 20% of the population was sampled. Such biases, if indeed common, will most likely result in over/underfeeding, both entailing negative economic and environmental consequences. We advocate conducting similar studies with major cultured fish to generate “bias correction tables” for adjusting fish feeding rate to bias-corrected biomass. These will help reduce the potential economic losses and negative environmental impacts of aquaculture practice. [Display omitted] •Potential bias associated with fish sampling in RAS was estimated.•Fish biomass sampling in RAS isn't standardized and deviates from the expected mean.•Biased fish biomass assessment has negative economic and environmental impacts.•Establishment of species-specific biomass correction tables may mitigate the bias.