1. Global Perspectives andGlobal Perspectives and
Challenges for AquacultureChallenges for Aquaculture
Rohana SubasingheRohana Subasinghe
Fisheries DepartmentFisheries Department
FAO, RomeFAO, Rome
2. Aquaculture is currently the fastest
growing food producing sector in the
world
It is highly diverse and the sector consists
of many species, systems, practices,
people, environments, and operations
Developing countries and Low Income
Food Deficit Countries (LIFDCs)
produce the most
Asia produces over 90%
3. • 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.
4. Global Aquaculture Production (includes plants)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
Year
Productionquantities(mn
tonnes)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Productionvalue(millionU$)
illio
S
Volume
Value
5. Global Aquaculture Production
Rest of World
Asia
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
Year
Productionquantity(tonnex106
)
China vs Rest of Asia
Rest of
Asia
China
0
20
40
60
1950 1970 1990
Year
Productionquantity
(tonnex106
)
6. Aquaculture production by environment, 2004
Mariculture
51%
Brackishwater
culture
6%
Freshwater
culture
43%
7. Major issues and challenges
Aquaculture is an income generating activity.
Rapid sector growth has, in some instances, outstripped
planning and regulatory activities.
There are regulatory rebounds, resource use conflicts
The 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.
8.
9.
10.
11. Maintaining environmental
sustainability
Certain forms of aquaculture have a bad reputation.
Arguments are:
use of feed and seed resources
disease control and chemical and veterinary drug use
accumulation of environmental contaminants
escapees and point source contamination of wild resources
negative or low net energy conversion during farming of top carnivores
mangrove clearance and land degradation, etc.
Some of the arguments are true and worthy of considering but the
quantum to which the issues are highlighted is certainly bias.
12. Maintaining environmental
sustainability
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
subject
This 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.
13. Maintaining environmental
sustainability
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.
14. Maintaining environmental
sustainability
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 feed
increased efficiency in feed formulation
improving food conversion ratio
15. Maintaining environmental
sustainability
containment and recycling of wastes
increased land and water use efficiency
improvement to health management and reduction of
chemical and veterinary drug use
domestication and genetic improvement towards reducing
negative impacts on aquatic biodiversity.
16. Comparative growth of cyprinid and penaeid shrimp
production in Asia and Oceania exclusive of China,
1964 to 2003
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
QUANTITY(MillionTonnes)
Cy prinids Penaeids
19. 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 products
Not easy with the large number of small-scale farmers
Substantial institutional re-organization, legal and policy
development, awareness raising and capacity building
efforts will be essential
20. Effect of vaccination on the use of
antibacterials in Norway 1974 - 2003
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03
No.kgsofantibiotics(in
thousand)
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
Metrictonsofsalmonids
produced
Use of antibiotics in fish
Fish production
1.vaccine
vibriosis
2.vaccine
cold water
vibriosis
3.vaccine
furunculosis
21. Trans-boundary Pathogens
There are many proven examples
Crayfish plague in Europe
Whirling disease in the US
Bonamia disease in Europe
Abalone parasitic diseases in Canada
EUS in Asia
WSSV and TSV in Asia and Americas
KHV in Asia, etc.
22. EUS spread 1972-1996 1972
1980
1985
1971
19791987
1991
1996
1989
1989
1988
1984
1983
1981
1984 1983
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
23. VNN spread
now widespread throughout
the world (1986 - 2001)
(20 countries, >30 host
species)
2000
1998
2000
1991,
1994
???
1995
2000???Groupers/seabass
1998
2000
1988,
1991, 1997
1997
From Dr. MelbaFrom Dr. Melba ReantasoReantaso, Oxford, Maryland, Oxford, Maryland
29. Combating disease and
managing health
Safe and controlled movement of aquatics
Risk-based decision making
Compliance to international treaties
Maintain bio-security
Betters management practices
Capacity building
Self-regulation
Empowerment of small farmers
30. Major Trends:Major Trends:
Restricted aquaculture expansion will tend towards increasingRestricted aquaculture expansion will tend towards increasing
intensificationintensification
Continued diversification of species and need for their responsiContinued diversification of species and need for their responsibleble
useuse
Continued diversification of production systemsContinued diversification of production systems
Increasing influence of markets, trade and consumptionIncreasing influence of markets, trade and consumption
Enhanced regulation and better governanceEnhanced regulation and better governance
Drive for better managementDrive for better management
31. 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 tog 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 alsoStrategies 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!
