Earth Month Reflections: Finding Purpose in Aquaculture

Opinion Piece by Chrissie Bullerwell, Research Associate with Onda

For me, Earth Month has always been a time to stop and think about the work we do and the impact that it has beyond the day-to-day. I think for many of us in the industry, we share a common goal: a desire to contribute in some way to bettering our planet. And it was this idea that first led me to aquaculture.

When I first started my studies at university, I didn’t know exactly what I wanted my career to look like, but I did know I wanted to help the planet. I was originally drawn to ecology and understanding our natural world and how we can protect it. It wasn’t until my final year during a marine block semester that I was introduced to aquaculture and something clicked. It felt like I had found a way I could make a real impact and work towards solutions, not just learn about the challenges. Aquaculture offered a way to take my values and turn them into actions. The idea that we can produce food that directly reduces our reliance on wild-caught species really set aquaculture apart in my mind. It seemed like a practical and meaningful answer to one of the worlds problems.

More than a decade later, I am still motivated by that purpose. The industry is constantly changing and moving forward with the same core values. We’ve already seen significant developments, including increased use of alternative feeds, reduced reliance on antibiotics, improved fish health management, and a wider range of species being farmed than ever before, to name just a few. All of this reflects a shift towards more thoughtful, science-based decision making. It’s not about being perfect but always improving and looking to the future.

I see these same values in the work we do here at Onda. There is an understanding that our work is part of a greater picture. Our clients are working towards the goal of a better, more sustainable future, and the fact that we get to be a part of that is so exciting and meaningful to me. Across the industry, there is a growing focus on balancing production with environmental responsibility. These changes may not always be obvious, but over time they add up and make a difference.

Earth Month can be a time to focus on big ideas, but I believe that progress can happen every day in smaller actions, and those are also something to celebrate. This is what makes our work so important. For me, this is more than a career; it’s meaningful work that contributes to something real and positive, and that’s something to be proud of.