Success Stories In Asian Aquaculture - Library - Network of ...

1 Aquaculture Successes in Asia: Contributing to Sustained Development71.6.1 Importance in Narrowing the Supply and Demand GapIn the wake of the plateauing of the traditional fish supplies, it is generally acceptedthat the shortfall in food fish needs has to come from aquaculture. Aquaculturewithin the short span of three to four decades has continued to increase its importancein the food fish production sector, and is estimated to account for 50% of theglobal food fish consumption (Fig. 1.3 ), and tantamount to approximately 35% ofthe global fish production/availability.1.6.2 Key Features of the Aquaculture SectorThe great bulk of aquaculture production occurs in Asia, and within Asia, in China.Freshwater finfish culture contributes most to overall production (Figs. 1.4 and 1.5 ).In general, the great bulk of aquaculture production is based on commodities thatcommand a farm gate price of less than US$ 2.00 kg −1 , and all in all over the years,the price of aquaculture produce has retained static and/or declined marginally, instark contrast to other food commodities. Of the major cultured commodities froma unit (kg) value viewpoint, the most important cultured commodities are the salmonidsand shrimp in temperate and tropical regions, respectively.In Asia, the epicenter of aquaculture production, the traditional practices tend tobe largely small scale operations, often farmer-owned and managed, and often clusteredin an area that is conducive to aquaculture. Aquaculture practices are integratedwith other primary production practices, particularly in Asia, such as rice farming.Million tonnes120100806040aquaculturecaptureAQ shareContribution to food-fish supply60%50%40%30%20%2010%00%1970 1976 1982 1988 1994 2000 2006Fig. 1.3 Contribution from capture fisheries and aquaculture to fish production and the percentcontribution of the latter to consumption (from Subasinghe et al., 2009)