Page 72 - fish_farms_curriculum

LEARNING ACTIVITY-8

AIM

 You will learn about the opportunities and prospects in geothermal aquaculture.

RESEARCH

 Research on opportunities and prospects in geothermal aquaculture.

7. Opportunities and Prospects in Geothermal Aquaculture

Compared to normal fish farming, using geothermal water in fish farming is an affordable and

sustainable solution to reduce dependency on fossil fuels. The availability of inexpensive
geothermal water makes it possible to grow different types of fish inexpensively all year

round, as the cultivation of freshwater and seafood in a controlled environment increases

production rates by 50 to 100%, thereby increasing annual harvests.

However, unlike fossil fuels, geothermal resources are not available everywhere. Thus,

although geothermal energy has the potential to provide long-term and safe energy for the
aquaculture sector, its uses are limited to the Pacific Ocean and surrounding areas of the

Pacific Plate, as well as European countries and deserts of North America and the Middle

East.

Although they have access to geothermal energy, some countries are not yet using it for fish
farming. For instance, in Lithuania, the use of geothermal energy in aquaculture is still under

evaluation. Although there is access to geothermal energy one kilometer below the surface in
the western part of the country, it is currently only used for heating purposes.

Geothermal power plants are labor-intensive and require well-trained personnel. This situation

creates economic difficulties. Therefore, growth in the aquaculture sector, where geothermal
energy is used, is slow. Despite all the negativities, the number of heat pumps using small-

scale geothermal energy in the country tends to increase.

Natural springs and wells in Albania produce geothermal water up to 65 °C. For this reason,
Albania has included in its plans to use geothermal heat for aquaculture. Albania already uses

70