Title: Aquaculture development and sustainability in Southeast Asia
Abstract: Countries in Southeast Asia still display a vivid spectrum of developmental stages in aquaculture, the most and the least developed seen in contiguous areas despite geographic similarities. The Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific is actively involved in the development of aquaculture in the region, approaching it from a holistic viewpoint by integrating issues in environment, resource management, and socioeconomics into its program of work. Constraints related to site, inputs, and markets have assumed more importance in many countries, but transfer of technology is still the problem in about half the region. More intense culture systems, especially shrimp pond and fish cages, have resulted in serious problems of self-pollution, which affects the industry's own sustainability. A recent FAO-NACA regional study indicated that non-aquaculture sectors such as industries, agriculture, urbanization, and tourism have serious impacts on aquaculture, but there is little evidence that aquaculture is seriously affecting non-aquaculture sectors. Sustainability of aquaculture has to be considered along with economic and environmental sustainability. It appears from examples in the region that aquaculture that seriously damages the environment is economically unsustainable. Various constraints that impinge on the sustainability of aquaculture in the region are discussed. Introduction The Asia-Pacific region in 1991 accounted for a total aquaculture production of 13.9 million metric tons (83% of the world production) valued about US$22 billion (FAO-RAPA 1993, FAO 1993). The global aquaculture production increased to 18.9 million tons in 1992, the Asia-Pacific accounting for 16.5 million tons or 87% of it (FAO 1994). The average annual growth rate of aquaculture in developing countries in Asia was 9.6% in 1981-1991, whereas for the rest of the world, the average rate was 5%. The total aquaculture production for Southeast Asia in D ow nl oa de d by [1 22 .5 5. 1. 77 ] f ro m h tt p: // re po si to ry .s ea fd ec .o rg .p h on A pr il 26 , 2 01 6 at 1 2: 09 P M C ST ADSEA '94 Proceedings 1992 was about 2 million tons, about 12% of the global and 14% of the Asian production (FAO 1994). The availability of successful technologies has resulted in the rapid expansion and in the remarkable increases in production of aquaculture in southeast Asia. However, further aquaculture development is being increasingly constrained by environmental problems caused by poorly managed aquaculture operations and by resource-use conflicts (ADB-NACA 1991, Pullin et al. 1993). The problems include infectious diseases, public health risks due to contamination of aquaculture products, and losses due to pollution and habitat destruction. The ADB-NACA (1991) regional study on fish diseases and health management concluded that the diseases of aquatic animals and plants are closely linked to the environment and that environmental issues including disease control must be considered in the broader context of farming systems design, siting, and management. The Office of Environmental Policy and Planning (1994) also concluded that to sustain the high production of shrimps achieved through improved technologies in Thailand, aquaculture has to be viewed in its total context technological, socioeconomic, and environmental. Many ecological disasters have occurred as a result of unsustainable use, abuse and misuse of natural resources and have clearly demonstrated that long-term and sustainable development can be achieved only through sound environmental management (Pillay 1992). A clear understanding of the environmental problems of aquaculture and their economic impact is essential for the formulation of effective strategies for mitigation at the national and international levels and that of the farmer. The Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA) has developed a regional program that promotes sustainable development of aquaculture within the broader context of the environment, resource management, and rural socio-economics. NACA adopts and encourages the holistic approach in the planning and management of aquaculture development programs. This paper reviews the aquaculture production in southeast Asia and some of the constraints in shrimp and carp aquaculture. The review includes the results of an FAO-NACA (1994) study on the effects of aquaculture on non-aquaculture sectors, and vice-versa. The concepts of sustainable development and aquaculture are also reviewed before a discussion on the sustainability of aquaculture in the region. Aquaculture Production in Southeast Asia Aquaculture production is regularly reviewed by FAO and other organizations; in addition, sectoral reviews have been made (e.g., Kutty 1980, ADCP 1989a, 1989b, Csavas 1993). Table 1 shows the total aquaculture production in 1984, 1988, and 1992 in the Asia-Pacific. The highest producer in southeast Asia is the Philippines with 734,373 tons, followed by Indonesia with 682,647 tons in 1992. Tables 2-5 show the commodity-wise aquaculture production in 1991. Southeast Asia produced 580,330 tons of freshwater fish, about 8% of the global production. Indonesia produced 249,670 tons or 43% of the regional total (eight countries, Table 2). Total production of marine and diadromous fishes was 395,015 tons, about 29% of global. The Philippines with 245,598 tons was the highest producer among five countries (Table 3). 92 D ow nl oa de d by [1 22 .5 5. 1. 77 ] f ro m h tt p: // re po si to ry .s ea fd ec .o rg .p h on A pr il 26 , 2 01 6 at 1 2: 09 P M C ST Aquaculture Development and Sustainability Table 1. Aquaculture production in the Asia-Pacific region in 1992. Data from FAO (1994).
Publication Year: 1995
Publication Date: 1995-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 4
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot