http://www.fao.org/3/a-i3539e.pdf World Aquaculture Performance Indicators (WAPI) is an endeavour initiated by the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department to develop user-friendly tools for compiling, generating and providing easy access to quantitative information on aquaculture sector performance at the national, regional and global levels. The ppt presents a forthcoming technical paper as a background document for FAO WAPI module on aquaculture production © FAO: http://www.fao.org

1. SPECIES DIVERSIFICATION
IN GLOBAL AQUACULTURE
A forthcoming technical paper
for FAO WAPI module on
aquaculture production

2. Co-authors
CAI, Junning: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the
United Nations, Rome, Italy.
YAN, Xue: Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Beijing, China
ZHOU, Xiaowei: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the
United Nations, Rome, Italy.
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3. Aquaculture species diversification: a popular
notion attractive to policymakers and other
experts
This paper would:
•Examine/clarify the concept and measurement of species
diversification in aquaculture
― For systematic assessment and monitoring species
diversification in aquaculture
•Examine the status and trend of species diversity in
aquaculture at the global, regional and national levels and
highlight some salient patterns or stylized facts of species
diversification in aquaculture
― Providing knowledge and information for evidence-based
policymaking and business planning
•Explore how to use species diversity measures to facilitate
evidence-based decision makings
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4. Data and method
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5. Data source: FAO data on aquaculture
production (FishSTAT)
The most comprehensive dataset on global
aquaculture production
• Covering 206 countries or territories
• 580 species items
• Quantity data from 1950 – 2014; value data from 1984 – 2014.
• Different farming environments: freshwater, brackishwater,
marine
Imperfect data
• Data submitted by countries may not be accurate.
• Some FishSTAT species items are actually species groups.
• Some species-level data are estimated from more aggregated
level.
• Value data are less reliable than quantity data.
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6. Multiple dimensions of species diversification
measurement
Timeframe:
1950 – 2014;
focusing on 1990-
2014
Types:
Focusing on FishSTAT
species items (580 in
total); also considering
higher groups
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7. Diversity indices
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8. Effective number of species (true diversity)
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9. Some notes on diversity indices
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10. Quantity vs. value measures
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11. Indonesia: a case of quantity and value-based diversity
indices give opposite indication of species
diversification
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12. South Africa: a case of quantity and value-based
diversity indices give opposite indication of species
diversification
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13. Species scope
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14. Examples of 328 species groups
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15. Species diversity for major aquaculture species
groups
Year: 1990-2014; Area = All; Environment = All; Scope = Aquatic products; Diversity measure (q =1)
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16. Salient patterns or stylized
facts of species diversification
in aquaculture
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17. The status of species diversification in global aquacultu
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18. 1990 to 2014: More species
diversified global aquaculture
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19. More species diversified aquaculture for the world
as a whole
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20. Aquaculture species
diversification: regional
perspective
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21. Less species diversified aquaculture in developed
regions
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22. More species diversified aquaculture in developing
regions
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23. Less species diversified aquaculture in Africa
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24. Top-10 species in Africa: 1990 vs. 2014
Diversity in 1990 = 8.2
Diversity in 2014 = 7.2
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25. Less species diversified aquaculture in Europe
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26. Top-10 species in Europe: 1990 vs. 2014
Diversity in 1990 = 9.8
Diversity in 2014 = 6.7
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27. Aquaculture species diversification in European
countries
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28. Regional species diversification may not reflect average
species diversification of countries in the region: the
case of Australia/New Zealand
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29. More species diversified aquaculture in Latin
America and Caribbean
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30. Top-10 species in LAC: 1990 vs. 2014
Diversity in 1990 = 9.1
Diversity in 2014 = 11.0
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31. More species diversified aquaculture in Northern
America
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32. Top-10 species in Northern America: 1990 vs. 2014
Diversity in 1990 = 6.6
Diversity in 2014 = 9.2
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33. More species diversified aquaculture in Oceania
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34. Top-10 species in Oceania: 1990 vs. 2014
Diversity in 1990 = 5.6
Diversity in 2014 = 6.5
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35. Salient patterns or stylized facts
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36. China: the largest and most diversified aquaculture
producer
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37. Declined species diversification in China’s marine
shrimps and prawn aquaculture
Year: 1990-2014; Area = All; Environment = All; Scope = Aquatic products; Diversity measure (q =1)
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38. Norway and Chile: Export-oriented countries may
have large production yet low diversity
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39. Egypt: country with less diverse aquaculture resources
may have large production yet low diversity
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40. Hong Kong and Singapore: High income cities with
strong preference over seafood may have small
production yet high diversity
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41. Malawi: high diversity because of restriction over
introduced species
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42. Marine shrimps and prawns: large-scale producers tend
to be less species diversified than small-holder
producers
Year: 1990-2014; Area = All; Environment = All; Scope = Aquatic products; Diversity measure (q =1)
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43. Use of knowledge and
information about species
diversification patterns for
evidence-based decision making
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44. Lessons learned
• Species diversification patterns are under the influence of
many factors.
• Different countries tend to have different species
diversification patterns.
• A country tends to have different species diversification
patterns at different aquaculture development stages.
• A variety of dimensions need to be specified for species
diversification to be properly defined and measured.
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45. Remaining questions
• How can a country learn from other countries’ experiences in
species diversification?
― What can government learn?
― What can the private sector learn?
• How do we know whether a certain species diversification
pattern is good or bad for a country?
• What are other species diversification measures to use?
• How can species diversification measures be used to help
government design proper aquaculture development
strategies or make decisions on specific issues such as
allocation of public funds to different research activities?
• How can species diversification measures help farmers select
farming species?
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46. Facilitating evidence-based policymaking: an
example
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47. Facilitating evidence-based policymaking: an
example (continued)
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0510152025
Percent
0 5 10 15
Diversity index (q=1; scope = fish; area = all; environment = all; type = FishST
1000 =< Production < 10000 tonnes
010203040
Percent
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Diversity index (q=1; scope = fish; area = all; environment = all; type = FishST
Production < 1000 tonnes
05101520
Percent
0 5 10 15
Diversity index (q=1; scope = fish; area = all; environment = all; type = FishST
10000 =< Production < 100000 tonnes
0510152025
Percent
0 5 10 15 20 25
Diversity index (q=1; scope = fish; area = all; environment = all; type = FishST
Production >=1000000

48. FAO World Aquaculture
Performance Indicators (WAPI):
An initiative to facilitate evidence-based
policymaking and sector management
in aquaculture and fisheries
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49. Welcome collaboration on WAPI
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WAPI@fao.org