Aquaculture

Global Perspectives and Global Perspectives and Challenges for AquacultureChallenges for Aquaculture

Rohana SubasingheRohana Subasinghe

Fisheries DepartmentFisheries DepartmentFAO, RomeFAO, Rome

Aquaculture is currently the fastest growing food producing sector in the worldIt is highly diverse and the sector consists of many species, systems, practices, people, environments, and operationsDeveloping countries and Low Income Food Deficit Countries (LIFDCs) produce the mostAsia produces over 90%

• Aquaculture, probably the fastest growing food-producing sector, now accounts for almost 50 percent of the world’s food fish and is perceived as having the greatest potential to meet the growing demand for aquatic food.

• Total aquaculture production of aquatic animals (excluding aquatic plants) for 2004 was reported to be 45.5 million tonnes with a farm-gate value of US$ 63.4 billion.

• Given the projected population growth over the next two decades, it is estimated that at least an additional 40 million tonnes of aquatic food will be required by 2030 to maintain the current per caput consumption.

Global Aquaculture Production (includes plants)

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Global Aquaculture Production

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Aquaculture production by environment, 2004

Mariculture51%

Brackishwater culture

6%

Freshwater culture43%

Major issues and challengesAquaculture is an income generating activity. Rapid sector growth has, in some instances, outstripped planning and regulatory activities. There are regulatory rebounds, resource use conflictsThe role of aquaculture in food security has been a major concern of the sector for many years. Production has been in the increase at a reducing rate.May be due to declining prices for luxury and commodity products as markets are becoming saturated and competition is increasing.

Maintaining environmental sustainability

Certain forms of aquaculture have a bad reputation. Arguments are:

use of feed and seed resourcesdisease control and chemical and veterinary drug useaccumulation of environmental contaminantsescapees and point source contamination of wild resourcesnegative or low net energy conversion during farming of top carnivoresmangrove clearance and land degradation, etc.

Some of the arguments are true and worthy of considering but thequantum to which the issues are highlighted is certainly bias.


Traditional aquaculture produce large volumes of fish feeding low in food chain which supports livelihoods of people“Modern-day aquaculture”, mainly the production of high value carnivorous fish or shellfish destined to import markets is a different subjectThis sector uses considerable quantity of natural resources and also produces considerable quantity of effluents and waste. The sector’s sustainability and environmental acceptability has been increased significantly over the past decade through research involving developing technically specialised conditions.


The environmental, social and economic landscape within which aquaculture has performed well up to now, is changing! Consumers look for “Sustainability, Safety, Quality, and Equity” of the products.Competition will increase as barriers to trade decline through the process of economic globalization. Negative environmental and social impacts of aquaculture will increase public scrutiny and criticism, that could well alter the policies that have so far fostered growth.


The trend has been to improve the environmental acceptability or sustainability of the sector through several interventions and developments such as;

reduced reliance on fishmeal in fish feedincreased efficiency in feed formulationimproving food conversion ratio


containment and recycling of wastesincreased land and water use efficiencyimprovement to health management and reduction of chemical and veterinary drug usedomestication and genetic improvement towards reducing negative impacts on aquatic biodiversity.

Comparative growth of cyprinid and penaeid shrimp production in Asia and Oceania exclusive of China,

1964 to 2003

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Global fishmeal usage

2002

Others9%

Ruminants1%

Pigs27%

Poultry29%

Aquaculture34%

1988

Others10%

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Pigs20%

Poultry60%

2010 (projected)

Others15%

Pigs22%

Poultry15%

Aquaculture48%

Keeping up with safety and quality

There is a need for aquaculturists develop systems for farming aquatic animals that assures food safety; Risk assessment and HACCP and Good Hygienic Practice (GHP) based practices. New demands for trace-ability of aquaculture productsNot easy with the large number of small-scale farmersSubstantial institutional re-organization, legal and policy development, awareness raising and capacity building efforts will be essential

Effect of vaccination on the use of antibacterials in Norway 1974 - 2003

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Use of antibiotics in fishFish production

1.vaccinevibriosis

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3.vaccinefurunculosis

Trans-boundary PathogensThere are many proven examples

Crayfish plague in EuropeWhirling disease in the USBonamia disease in EuropeAbalone parasitic diseases in CanadaEUS in AsiaWSSV and TSV in Asia and AmericasKHV in Asia, etc.

EUS spread 1972-1996 1972

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Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam

From Dr. MelbaFrom Dr. Melba ReantasoReantaso, Oxford, Maryland, Oxford, Maryland

VNN spread now widespread throughout the world (1986 - 2001)(20 countries, >30 host species)

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From Dr. MelbaFrom Dr. Melba ReantasoReantaso, Oxford, Maryland, Oxford, Maryland

Hawaii

Global Transfers Global Transfers of of LiveLive ShrimpShrimp

Tahiti

From Prof. DonaldFrom Prof. Donald LightnerLightner, UOA, UOA

White Spot Syndrome Virus

1991/92

1993

From Dr. P. Walker, CSIRO, AustraliaFrom Dr. P. Walker, CSIRO, Australia

The Asian pandemic

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Fig. 1:- Ecuadorian monthly shrimp exports:- 1986 - 1999.

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Gaviotas syndrome(89 - 90)

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(Da ta from CORPEI, Jan. 20 00)From Dr. VictoriaFrom Dr. Victoria AldayAlday, Belgium, Belgium

Combating disease and managing health

Safe and controlled movement of aquaticsRisk-based decision makingCompliance to international treatiesMaintain bio-securityBetters management practicesCapacity buildingSelf-regulationEmpowerment of small farmers

Major Trends:Major Trends:Restricted aquaculture expansion will tend towards increasing Restricted aquaculture expansion will tend towards increasing intensificationintensificationContinued diversification of species and need for their responsiContinued diversification of species and need for their responsible ble useuseContinued diversification of production systems Continued diversification of production systems Increasing influence of markets, trade and consumptionIncreasing influence of markets, trade and consumptionEnhanced regulation and better governance Enhanced regulation and better governance Drive for better managementDrive for better management

Future Outlook:Future Outlook:Aquaculture will spread to Africa and Latin America.Aquaculture will spread to Africa and Latin America.Aquaculture is an opportunity for the entrepreneur who is willinAquaculture is an opportunity for the entrepreneur who is willing to g to develop a new “aquaculture” product.develop a new “aquaculture” product.Search for new, high value species will continue with some succeSearch for new, high value species will continue with some success.ss.Strategies aiming to promote offshore aquaculture will also Strategies aiming to promote offshore aquaculture will also continue.continue.Developed countries would reduce their current imports.Developed countries would reduce their current imports.On average, people will consume more fish by 2015!On average, people will consume more fish by 2015!

Thank You!Thank You!

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Aquaculture