UNIT 3 GLOBAL SCENARIO OF

AQUACULTURE
Structure
3.1 Introduction
Objectives .
3.2 Overall Scenario
Aquatic Products as a Food Source
Major Commodities of Aquacuiture
3.3 Regional Review
East Asia.
South and Southeast Asia
Near Eastand North Africa
Sub-Saharan A'frica
North America
Latin America and the Carribean
Europe
South Pacific
3.4 Summary
3.5 Terminal Questions
3.6 Answers

3.1 INTRODUCTION
Aquaculture has been a worldwide phenomenon. The number of species is increasing
continuously underaquaculture. It has been estimated that the increasingly substantial
contribution of aquaculture to total fish production will continue to rise. In the Unit,
you will study about aquaculture scenario of the different regions of the world i.e. East
Asia, South and South-east Asia and Near East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa
and North Latin America, Europe and South Pacific America.

In modern times, not many primary industries have consistently recorded high yearly
growth over a period of two decades. Aquaculture has sustained a global growth,
continues to grow, and is expected to increasingly fill the shortfall in aquatic food
products resulting from static or declining capture fisheries and population increase
into the year 2025. Its further growth and development will have to occur under a
different socio-economic milieu in the new millennium.

The contribution of aquaculture to world food supply of aquatic products has been
increasing over the past 10 years, in comparison to capture fisheries, growing from 15
to 28 percent of total production between 1988 and 1997. As the bulk of aquaculture is
rural and subsistence, it plays a major role as a provider of direct and indirect
employment to the rural poor and, thereby, to poverty alleviation. In many developing
countries, aquaculture provides opportunities for diversification on agriculture farms
and productive use to otherwise idle land during certain seasons. The main cause for
the upsurge in the sector has been the transformation of aquaculture from an "art"
form to a "science". This brought many advantages, ranging from less dependence on
w)ld stock to the development of techniques that optimized yields, such as
polyculture, or enabled the achievement of high yields with low inputs. Two major
developments also enabled the sector to maintain growth momentum, appropriate
institutional frameworks and concerted research and development.

The global and regional trends over the last 20 years in the sector from a number of
perspectives, such- as production trends, contribution of aquaculture to aquatic food
consumption etc., are evaluated. Based on these different trends and in the light of
changing socio-economic conditions globally, and in particular, in developing nations,
the potential changes in the sector in the new millenniw:n are highlighted.
35
Introduction to Objectives
Aquaculture
After studying this unit, you should be able to:

• explain the contribution of aquaculture to world's fishery production,

• discuss comprehensive picture of aquaculture activities in different regions of the
world,
• identify the aquatic organisms which contribute most significantly in aquaculture.

3.2 OVERALL SCENARIO

Aquaculture has come to long way in the past three decades. This has been a world
wide phenomenon, extending into all the continents except Antarctica.

Aquaculture's contribution to world fishery production shows a consistent increasing

trend and it is maintaining its position as one of the fastest growing food production
activities in the world. Of all the regions of the world, Asia enjoys an obvious
dominance as an aquaculture producer of finfish, shellfish and aquatic plants. It
accounts. for about 80% of world aquaculture production with China and India alone
contributing to the tune of about 70%.

The number of species under aquaculture is continuously increasing. An increasing

number of countries have taken toaquaculture of crustaceans and molluscs.

A closer scrutiny of the scenario reveals that although cultured fish and shellfish
contribute significantly to total fishery production, aquaculture activities in most
countries are dominated by a few species such as carps in China and India, oysters and
mussels in Japan, the Republic of Korea and France, milkfish in Philippines and
Indonesia and so on.

Aquaculture of the four Chinese carps (sliver, grass, common and big head carps) .
produced largely under semi-intensive and extensive aquaculture systems, dominate
finfish production in the world. The prawn and shrimp production recovered well after
disease outbreaks which caused production to fall during 1992 and 1993.

Global aquaculture, thus, maintains its dominance in both weight and value by
freshwater finfish production. Although crustaceans contribute only 4% of production
by weight, value-wise they contribute 18% of the total. The important issues of global
synthesis of the aquaculture sector are discussed in the following subsections:

3.2!1 Aquatic Products as a Food Source

Although aquaculture originated at least two millennia ago, it was only since the latter
part of the 20th century that it began to make a significant contribution to overall
human food supplies, and it is now seen as an important sector for the supply of
animal protein. With the increasing awareness of the positive effects offish
consumption-on health and well being, the importance of aquaculture in the food
sector is destined to grow further. Equally, the sector will also continue to contribute
to income generation and livelihoods of significant portions of the global population,
mostly the rural poor. .

While it is clear that the figures for calorie supply have remained almost unchanged
over the last 20 years or so, the contribution to animal protein supply has shown a
gradual increase, currently being 16.6 percent. This gradual increase in importance of
aquatic food is a reflection of the increase in world fishery production. The per caput
fish consumption in 1996 was 15.8 kg/yr, and consumption has grown at an annual,
rate of 4.7 percentbetween 1990 and 1995, noting that consumption rates differ
36 significantly amongst continents (Fig. 3.1). Furthermore, there are also large.
differences of per caput consumption of fish in different regions/countries within a Global Scenario of
continent. This is best exemplified in the case of Europe, which has an average per Aquaculture
caput consumption of around 16.5 kg/yr, but where the European Community (EC) •.
countries consume around 22 kg/yr as opposed to the 6-9 kg/yr reported for the
Central and Eastern European countries. You' should also note that fish consumption
in low-income food-deficit countries (LIFDCs) was only 12.7kg/yr compared to 19.5
kg/yr in the rest of the world.
10T-~------------------------------~
9+------------------------------------------1
s.r 8
1t ~ 7+---------~-------------------4 ~--~----f
e 16+-'------------
li!.~-~~--~:~----~I:
-fi B 3+---:--1
~~ 2~---1
"" 1
o
1985 ·1990 1995 1997

• Europe ,.5. America o North America Oceania

• Africa • Asia • Total
Fig, 3.1: The changes in the per caput fish consumption in the different continents.
Source: www.fao.org

Review of production

World aquaculture in 1997 provided 36 million mt, or 28.8 million mt if one excludes
aquatic plants (FAO, 2000), as opposed to 87.1 million mt from the capture fisheries
in 1996 (FAO, 1999).

On the other hand and perhaps more importantly, the contribution of aquaculture to
the global aquatic food supplies has increased steadily during the last 15 years in
comparison to the capture fisheries (Fig. 3.2).

100 30
90 •••••• ~
~ 2S
80 r
~

i
_60
70 ~
".
~ io

I: - -
~ ~
I.oooJ

'j
'""" " loo
10
~ 30
20 loo

,I ,I
S
10
o
~ I .1 .I ,I o
.I'., .f ~ , , ~ .t~.t"~~./' $'~., I'
____
. AQuaCuIture- capture % AquacuIture
Fig, 3,1: The eonmbutions of capture fisheries and aquaculture to the total aquatic food supply
, and tbe percentage contribution of aquaculture (1988 - 1997).
Souru: www.rao.ofl
37
Introduction to It is relevant to consider the main reasons for the impressive rise of the sector over the
Aquaculture last 20 years. One ofthe underlying causes can be summarized by the transformation
of aquaculture from an "art" to a "science", not only in the approach, but also in the
application.
40
35

i!.302~
.~ 20
-g 15
~ 10
5
J1l lrI J1]
- J1

U[ 11 t I
o lrfJ lfI ~
1988 1989 1~ 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997

.Anftsh .CnJstaceans OMolluscS _Aquatic PIants·.Others • Total

Fig. 3.3: The main trends in aquaculture production (quantity and value) from 1988 -1997.
Source: www.fao.org

The current (1997) aquaculture.production of36 031 129 mt (FAO, 2000) is made up
offinfish, aquatic plants, molluscs, crustaceans and miscellaneous commodities
(including other invertebrate arid a few vertebrate species). The main trends seen for
global aquaculture production since 1988 are shown in Fig. 3.3.

It is evident that finfish represents the bulk of the aquaculture production (by volume),
contributing about 50 percent of the total, a position that has remained almost
unchanged throughout this time (Fig. 3.4). In 1997, finfish (52 percent) was followed
by molluscs (24 percent), seaweeds (20 percent) and crustaceans (4 percent). The
main change to be seen, however, has been with regard to the culture of aquatic
plants, whose contribution has decreased from about 25 percent t021 percent.
Mollusc production has slightly increased its contribution and, after a period of rapid
growth in the second half of the 1980s, the crustacean contribution stabilized at
around 4 percent.

40 ~----------------------------------~

35 .~----------~----------------~~
30 +--------------------::
i
.~....,
25 .f---~----__:
g 20 +----------:
g 15 .
~
c..
10 •

5 .

o' .

.~
-1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
.Asla • Europe
_Latin Mlesica &. caribbean
• North America . .Oceanla
~ Sub-saharan Africa • Former Soviet Union

Fig. 3.4: Aquaculture production in the different continents/regions, 1988 -1997.

38 . Source: Www.fao.org .
In spite of these generalized observations made for the sector, there is a marked Global Scenario of
disparity in aquaculture production between the different continents, regions and Aquaculture
countries (Fig. 3.4).'
•
Nonetheless, it has to be conceded that the initial upsurge in certain, regions was, in all
probability, 'linked to the cultural background, which in turn reflects a consumer
preference for aquatic food products and a tradition of some form of fish culture.

Important changes have been seen with regard to the species cultured (Table 3.1). In
1988, ten species that were produced in highest quantity included five finflsh, three,
aquatic plants and two molluscs. By 1997, five finfish, three mollusc and two aquatic
plant species made up the top ten. Of these, the production exceeded 1 million mt in
eight taxa (Table 3.1'). .

Table 3.1: The ten species that were produced in the highest quantity in 1988 and
,1997, the amount produced is given in metric tones.

Species 1988 1997

Japanese kelp 2072 383 Japanese kelp 4 401931

Silver carp 1 587691 Silver carp 3227.617
Pacific cupped oyster 1 217663 Pacific cupped oyster 2974460
Common carp 1091754 Grass carp( =White amur) 2 711131
Bighead car~ 725603 Common carp 2.229826
Laver (Nori) 670816 Bighead carp 1552461
Grass carp( =White amur) 609858 Japanese carpet shell 1275104
Wakame 492196 Yesso scallop 1 256799
Blue mussel 415846 Crucian carp 862554
Milkfish 345829 Laver (Norj) 861231
Source: www.fao.org

One of the most important facts of the sector is that in all continents, except Africa,
there has been a significant increase in the production per caput over the period 1984
to 1997. The increase in production per caput in Europe was, however, comparatively
smaller. It is within this context that the leading role of Asia in the global aquaculture
sector has to be considered.

On the other hand, the sector has also witnessed the development of large-scale,
industrial aquaculture during the last two decades, which is not so interlinked with the
traditions mentioned previously, but may be due to the consumer preferences in the
developed countries. The development of aquaculture for salmonids and shrimps in
South America, salrnonids in northern Europe, marine finfish in the Mediterranean
Region and channel catfish in the United States are examples of this throughout the
world.

In 1988, eight Asian countries/territories were among the top ten aquaculture
producers, with China leading with a production of 7.million mt (Table 3.2). By 1997,
the top ten was entirely composed of Asian nations, with China leading and providing
24 million mt. This means that its production had increased by 340 percent over the
ten-year period. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Japan and Taiwan
Province of China recorded reductions, while all the other Asian nations increased
their production in this period, 13 of them recording at ieast a doubling in production.
Also, by 1997, Thailand and Vietnam had emerged as major aquaculture nations.
39
Introduction to Table: 3.2: The top ten aquatultureproduting tountries in 1988 and 1997. The
Aquaculture amount produted is given in metrie tones.

Country 1988 1997

ChIna 6995409 China 24030 313

Japan 1425991 .India 1862250
Korea Dem. People1s Rep 1090000 Japan 1339 861
Korea Republic of 898649 Korea Republic of 1040'230
India 893330 ~hillpp1nes 957546
Phll~pines 599 464 Indonesla 777 547
Indonesia 499 597 Thailand 552356
united States cl America 357614 Bangladesh 512738
Taiwan Province of China 300 981 VietNam 509000
Spain 271356 Korea ~m. People's Rep 489321
Source: www.f.o.orx

SAQf
Discuss the main trends in aquatic products as food source during 1988 - 1997.
..............................................................................................
.........
. ,. , .

• • • • • • • • • •• • , ••••••••••••••••••••••• ., •••••••••• -'.. •• •••••••••••••••••••••••• "" •• e •••••••••••••

3.2.2 Major Commodities of Aqu culture

Aquaculture is a very diverse activity, involving the culture of invertebrates to
reptiles, being done in all types of aquatic environments.

Flnflsh
As indicated earlier, finfish is the major commodity that is cultured globally, where
over 125 species are contributors, in all environments (fresh, brackish and marine
waters) and temperatures (warm, temperate and cold). The number of species whose
production exceeds 100 000 mt /yr is less than 20, of which 11 are cyprinids. The
great bulk of finfish culture is constituted by freshwater species, followed by
diadromous and marine species. Cyprinids and diadromous fish dominate freshwater.
culture, followed by carps and salmonids, in warm and cold climates, respectively.
40 The global value of the produce of each category reflects the amounts produced.
 Asia leads the world in finfish culture, producing nearly 90 percent of that produced Global Scenario of
globally in 1997 (Fig. 3.5). The dominance of Asia in finfish culture is further' Aquaculture
exemplified when one considers the proportion of each of the seven major groups of
teleost fish cultured in each continent. From this analysis, it is evident that, with the
exception of salmon id species, Asia leads in the culture of all the other groups.

Upon deeper analysis of the information provided in Fig. 3.5, notably on a regional
basis, it becomes apparent that the culture of carnivorous finfish is a developed-
country activity, while noncarnivorous finfish culture is essentially an activity made in
.developing countries.

Near East
1%
latin Amet1ca &
tarll;lbean FSU
1%
2%
Europe
5%

Fig. 3.5: Percent contribution to cultured finfish production by different continents.

Source: www.fao.org

Crustaceans

Compared to that reported for firrfish production, the annual yield of cultured
crustaceans is relatively small, currently measuring about 1.4 million mt. This is a
sector that continued to grow, consistently and substantially, although few fluctuations
observed during the process. A concurrent growth of crab culture, mainly a fattenlng
process, has cccurred, particularly in Asia, which has assisted the overall growth of
crustacean aquaculture. All cultured crustaceans are relatively high valued, and the
value of the different products is almost identical to the production.

FII· 3.6: The relative contribution of different ,brlmp .ped •• to the I'ob.l eultured .hrlmp prod~ctlon.
Source: w"l".(ao.org
41
Introduction to Marine shrimp culture almost completely dominates crustacean culture, representing
Aquacultul'O 96 percent that is done in br~~ki:ihwarer and 73 percent of all crustacean aquaculture.
· The relative contribution of the various shrimp species to global cultured shrimp
production is shown in Fig. 3.6, which shows that the tiger prawn, Penaeus monodon,
contributes in excess of 50 percent to the total followed by the white leg shrimp, P.
vannamei (18 percent), and the oriental or fleshy prawn, P. chinensis (10 percent).

Shrimp culture is essentially confined to Asia and South America and, interestingly,
·the production share of the latter has continued to increase steadily throughout the
decade, rising from around 15 percent to nearly 20 percent of global production in
1997. It is envisaged that Africa may become an important player in this sector in the
future.

Molluscs
Fifty-eight species of molluscs are cultured globally, and the total production is about
· 8.6 million mt. However, the production exceeded 50,000 mt (in 1997) for ten species
only (two oysters, five mussels, two clams and cockles and one scallop species). As
with the previous two commodities, Asia also leads global mollusc culture, its
contribution growing steadily from about 76 percent in 1988 to nearly 90 percent in
· 1997, giving an APR of 12.6 percent. This has been achieved through a superior
growth rate to the other important regional producer, Europe, whose expansion has
been much slower, measured by an APR of 1.1 percent for the period.

Aquatic plants
Annual aquatic plant production currently exceeds 7 million mt and is confined to
three marine seaweed taxa, the brown (Phaeophyceae - four species), red
(Rhodophyceae - nine species) and green (Chlorophyceae- three species) seaweeds.
The relative contribution of each of these groups to total production and the value of
the produce, from 1984 to 1997, shows that the value of green seaweeds is slightly
higher than that of the other two groups. Aquatic plant culture is almost totally
confined to Asia, with recent culture activity expanding for Gracilaria in Chile, but
elsewhere it is only of a very smaJl scale (sub-Saharan Africa, Europe and Oceania).

SAQ2
Explain the global trends in development of cultured crustaceans .
................................. , .

~ ~ •••••••••••• I •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• , ••• , ••••••••••••••••••••••••• , ••••••••

3.3 REGIONAL REVIEW

We shall now take a look on the aquaculture scenario of the different regions of the
world.

3.3.1 East Asia

The three most important fishing nations of the region including Japan, China and the
Republic of Korea. The seas within this region include the north-west Pacific Ocean
42 includingthe Sea of Japan, the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea. Fish production is
an important economic activity particularly in coastal states of the region. The region Global Scenario of
is one of the largest fish producing areas of the world. Aquaculture production of the Aquaculture
region contributes more than 70% of the global value. Fish consumption in the region
is generally high, exceeding meat consumption in some of the countries. Annual ••
average per capita fish consumption of the region amounts to 21 kg.

China, with its long history of aquaculture, is the world's largest producer of
aquacrops. Carps and Tilapias are the most dominating species which are grown in
pond-based integrated polyculture systems on the Yangtze River Delta and in the
Pearl River Delta area. The area around ponds are often used for cultivating vegetable
crops making use of the pond muck (farmyard manure) as fertilizers.

Aquaculture in Japan is restricted almost entirely to high value carnivorous marine

species grown under intensive faming systems. The two major species are yellow tail
and red sea-bream (bream is a salt water fish of the carp family). Marine plants
constitute the second most important species under aquaculture followed by molluscs
and crustaceans.

As a result of serious losses suffered by shrimp farms on account of disease out-

breaks, environmental issues have become increasingly important considerations for
future aquaculture development in the region.

3.3.2 South and South East Asia

The region includes countries from Pakistan in the West to Indonesia in the East. The
region includes some of the most productive fishing waters in the world contributing
about 27% in the global catch. Estimatedly, over 10 million people are employed in
fisheries activities of the region. The average per capita consumption offish in the
region is 9 kg. Fish trade has expanded significantly in the region over the last decade
and Thailand is the world's leading exporter of fish and fishery products.

Aquaculture production in the region has witnessed a spectacular increase in recent

years. The region's contribution to world aquaculture production is to the tune of 17%
by volume and 23% by value. In volume, the main producers of the region are India,
the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand. Finfishes are the chief constituents of the
volume followed by crustaceans, marine plants and molluscs. Crustaceans contribute
more than 50% of the total value of aqua culture produce.

Production offarmed finfish is mainly from freshwater pond aquaculture. Other

species are cultivated in pens and cages (e.g. Tilapia) or in coastal ponds (e.g.
milkfish).

Farmed shrimp culture has developed dramatically over the last decade contributing as
much as 75% of total world production of cultured shrimp. The major shrimp
producing countries of the region are Thailand and Indonesia. In several locations,
rapid expansion of shrimp farming is said to have affected the coastal environment.

3.3.3 Near East and North Africa-

No country in this region depends substantially on fish and fishery products as a

mainstay of its economy. Average per capita consumption of fish in the region ranges
from 40 kg in Yemen to 0.1 kg in Afganistan. The contribution of the region in global
fish production is about 2%.

Six countries of the region, namely, Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Cyprus and
Iran, account for about 90% of the production consisting almost entirely of cultured
common carp, Nile tilapia and silver carp. Molluscs and crustaceans make up the
small balance.
43
Introduction to Culture of marine fish is conducted mostly under intensive culture systems such as in
AquacuIture near-shore cages and to a lesser extent in coastal raceways and lagoons. These
systems depend totally on nutritionally complete aquafeed with high fishmeal and oil
content.

3.3.4 Sub-Saharan Africa

Fisheries play an important role in many Sub-Saharan African countries as a major
contributor to animal protein supplies, a foreign exchange earner and a generator of
rural employment. The average per capita consumption of fish in the region is 7 kg
per annum.

Unlike Asia, aquaculture is not a traditional practice in Sub-Saharan Africa. The

region contributes merely 0.2% of total global production. Kenya, Madagascar,
Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia are the major countries of aquaculture activities.
The major species cultured in the region include tilapia, catfishes, carps, molluscs, and
shrimps.

Freshwater fishes make up over 80% of the total aquaculture harvest and almost all
Sub-Saharan African fish farming is carried out by subsistence rural operators in small
freshwater ponds as a secondary activity to agriculture. Commercial shrimp farming is
developing in some countries such as Medagascar, Mozambique, Guinea and Kenya.

3.3.5 North America

The ~egion includes Canada, Greenland and the United states and the adjacent fishing
areas of the north-west and central Atlantic and north-east Pacific. The per capita
average fish consumption of the region is 22 and 23 kg (live weight equivalent) per
annum and has been stable during the last few years. .

Aquaculture in the region is a diversified activity which includes marine and

freshwater fishes, crustaceans, molluscs and marine plants.

The emphasis in Canadian region is on coldwater species such as salmon, trout and
molluscs. In United States, the main species under aquaculture include catfish, cupped
oysters, tilapia, rainbow trout, golden shiner (used for bait), salmon, crawfish and
shrimps. Catfishes, weight-wise, are grown more than all other species of aquatic
organisms combined. The channel catfish is the most frequently farmed species with
the blue catfish and the white catfish running a distant second and third. The center of
the catfish farming is Mississipi.

The crawfish (=cray fish) is the most commonly cultured invertebrate and stands
second only to catfishes in production. All the crawfish farms are located in the south-
east, mostly in Louisiana.

Baitfishes (golden shiner) have, long been a popular item for aquaculturists of United
States. There are over 14,000 baitfish farms in the United states producing over $ 50
million worth of fish each year.

Tropical fish and invertebrate culture for aquarium hobbyist is also important. It is
essentially a Florida-based operation.

Other important finfish species under aquaculture include salmon, large mouth bass,
small mouth bass, pike and walleye. Frogs are grown for laboratory scientists as well
as for food. Alligator is cultured in southern states both for meat and skin and are sold
for high prices. Under current practices, the eggs are collected from the wild and
hatched under controlled conditions. The young alligators are kept in shallow pools
located in heated buildings where they grow and attain much greater size than wild
44 ones.
The pond turtle, the red-eared slider (Chrysemys scripta) is cultivated for aquarium Global Scenario of
market. Aquaculture
••
Alligators and turtles are also reared with the objective to protect dwindling natural
population.

3.3.6 Latin America and the Carribean

The region covers the South American continent, Central America and Mexico as well
as the island states and territories of the Carribean. Important countries of the region
include Brazil, Chile, Venezuela, Argentina, Cuba, Mexico. The region is note worthy
in the sense that it was from this region on the world only where from scientists
namely, Houssay, B.A., Cardoso, D.M. and Vote Ihring reported their first success in
induced breeding of fishes by injection of fish pituitary extract which had
revolutionized the aquaculture scenario of the world and fish production in the region
accounts for 22% of the world total. The contribution of the fisheries sector in the
economy of the region is highly concentrated in coastal and rural areas where it is the
key and often the onlysource of employment and income generation. The per capita
average fish consumption is about 9 kg per year. Latin American countries are major
exporting countries of fish and fishery products and account for 11% of world exports
with Chile as the main exporter. Shrimp and fish are the main items of exports.

Aquaculture production contributes about 2 and 5% of world production by volume

and value, respectively. Aquaculture makes a similar contribution to total regional
fisheries production, accounting for most of the production.

Shrimp culture in the region has increased very rapidly. Equador is one of the leading
countries in the world in production of cultured penaeid shrimps. Salmon culture has
also developed although almost exclusively in Chile. Aquaculture of freshwater fishes
viz. tilapia, trout and carps and molluscs is also carried out. The herbivorous species
"cachama" and "pacu" (Colosoma spp.) in Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil are
considered to have a great potential in Latin America and elsewhere.

3.3.7 Europe

Fish production is important to many countries of the European region. The per capita Nordic countries is a term
average fish consumption varies from 30 kg per year in some of the Mediterranean used collectively five
and Nordic countries to 10 to 15 kg per year in some of the transition and island countries in northern
Europe i.e., Finland,
countries. Iceland, Denmark,
Norway and Sweden.
One of the most rapidly developing aquaculture activity of the region is that of
Norway's salmon farming which has grown significantly since 1977. A large number
of these salmon are exported to France and the United States. Currently, over 300
hatcheries in Norway sell trout and salmon fry for aquaculture. Salmon farming has
now also spread to several other countries in the northern Europe, most notably is
Scotland. In fact, aquaculture sector has undergone a revolution because of the
success of salmon farming.

Trout, especially the rainbow trout, is also an important culture product by weight in
Europe, constituting some 31% of all European aquaculture production.

Carps are the warmwater fishes of the region, especially in eastern Europe. They
constitute 30% of European aquaculture.

Many finfishes in the region are grown for resource enhancement of open waters
through ranching to support both commercial and recreational fisheries.

45
Introduction to 3.3.8 South Pacific
Aquaculture
The region covers the western and central Pacific ocean, stretching from Australia in
the west of Pit cairn Island in the east. Although the region contributes only about 2%
of total world fishery production, however, it plays a critical role in the economy of
the south Pacific states and territories. The region harbours one of the world's richest
tuna fishing grounds, and fisheries exports from the region consist almost wholly of
tuna. The average per capita consumption offish in the region is 20 kg (live weight
equivalent) per year.

The major contribution of aquaculture is through mussel culture in New Zealand.

Other significant contribution is through the culture of salmon in New Zealand and of
Salmo salar in Australia. Oysters and pearl oysters are other important species which
are cultivated in the region.

Most of the aquaculture production of the region is derived from coastal aquaculture.

Table 3.3 showing region wise aquaculture production systems and practices is given
below.

Table 3.3: Aquaculture production systems and practices, by region.

Region Major Culture Major MajQr Scope for

Species Culture Culture Future
Systems Practices Development
Needs for
Further
Expansion

ASIA At least 75 Traditional - Fish ponds Development

species; diverse extensive to - Fish pens of culture-
freshwater and intensive and fish based fisheries
marine species, cages in inland lakes,
including high- - Floating river,
value shrimps, rafts, lines, floodplants,
molluscs, and stakes and permanent
seaweeds, with for molluscs and temporary
carps and and reservoirs and
seaweeds. seaweeds barrages
dominating
production Resource
enhancement
programme
integrated with
environmental
management

PACIFIC Mussels and Intensive/semi - Hanging Production of

oysters, red -intensive to lines for high-value
seaweeds extensive mussels and species for
pearl oysters select markets;
- Offshore
cages for Small-scale
salmon aquaculture for
- Pond culture local markets;
for shrimps,
tilapia, Improved
catfish, management
milkfish of fishery
- Freshwater resources,
pens for particularly
46 crayfish I reef fisheries
 Global Scenario of
LATIN 50 species of Extensive to - Offshore cage Production of Aquaculture
AMERICA fish, crustaceans, semi-intensive farming of species for
and molluscs, 'and intensive pacific and export and
including Atlantic marine shrimp
freshwater fish salmon and salmon
and marine - Ocean
shrimp in South ranching in
America and Southern
molluscs in Ocean
Central America - Semi-
intensive
farming of
marine
shrimp in
coastal ponds
and extensive
farming of
freshwater
fish in ponds

AFRICA >26 freshwater Mainly - Fish pond Increased

fish; the most extensive culture for emphasis on
important being rural-based, freshwater higher value
tilapia and integrated fish catfishes for
COmlTIOncarp, with poultry - Raceways urban markets
molluscs and and animal and floating on marine
, oysters also husbandry, cages for species of fish
rice-fish marme and
farming; some species crustaceans
intensive in for select
race ways and national
floating cages market and
export

Culture-based
fisheries in
lakes and
reservoirs

Development
of coastal
lagoons which
are almost
totally
unexploited

MEDITERR- >50 individual Well- - Fish pond Production of

ANEAN species, mostly diversified - Fish cages high-value
freshwater and modern - Ocean species of
brackishwater practices, with ranching tourism and
fishes - most highly export
important being technical and
salmonids and intensive Integrated
carps; oysters systems in coastal zone
and mussels developing management
countries and
semi-intensive
and extensive
elsewhere

47
Introduction to
Aquaculture CARIBBEAN About 16 species - Floating Priority is for
of tilapias, carps, cages in aquaculture
marine shrimp reservo rs production for
and freshwater - Fish pond local markets
prawns, oysters farming in
and seaweeds freshwater
- Culture-based
fisheries in
reservoirs
- Rope
production of
mollusks

Source: ADCP Aquaculture Regional Profiles, 1986b

SAQ3

Fill up the blanks:

i) enjoys an obvious dominance as an aquaculture

producer in the world.
ii) Aquaculture activities in China are dominated by .
iii) Aquaculture in Philippines and Indonesia is dominated by .
iv) The per capita consumption of fish in is the lowest in the
world.
v) Aquaculture sector in Europe has been revolutionized due to success achieved in
........................... farming.

SAQ4
State whether following statements are true or false.

i) No countries in Sub-Saharan Africa depend substantially on fish and fishery

products.
ii) Aquaculture of bait fishes is the most popular in South Pacific region of the
globe.
iii) Crustaceans do not contribute substantially in global aquaculture production by
weight but by value, indeed, they do.
iv) Brackishwater sector maintains its dominance in global aquaculture production.
v) Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing food production activities in the world.

3.4 SUMMARY
You have learnt in this unit that:

• The rapid growth of aquaculture over the past decades kept the global volume of
fish production expanding despite the leveling of marine catches.

• Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing food production activities in the world.

• The share of cultured aquatic commodities from Asia accounts for about 80% of
the world aquaculture production.

• Although cultured finfish and shellfish contribute significantly to total fishery

production, aquaculture in most countries is dominated by a few species such as
carps in China and India, oysters and mussels in Japan, Korea and France and
milkfish in Philippines and Indonesia.

• Freshwater finfish production maintains its dominance both by weight and volume
in global aquaculture production.
48
 Global Scenario of
• Although crustaceans contribute only 4% of global aquaculture production by
AquacuIture
weight but value-wise they contribute 18% of the total value.

• No countries of Near East and North Africa depend substantially on fish and
fishery products.

• The per capita average fish consumption in Afganistan is the lowest (0.1 kg per
annum) in the world.

• The South Pacific region harbours one of the richest tuna fishing grounds in the
world.

• Aquaculture sector in Europe has been revolutionized due to success achieved in

salmon farming.

• Next to catfishes, aquaculture of bait fishes is very popular in the United States.
There are over 14,000 baitfish farms in the country producing over $ 50 million
worth of fish each year.

• High concentrations of intensive fish and shrimp culture systems led to

environmental problems at several locations in the world and put a question mark
on the sustainability of aquaculture development.

• As production from capture fisheries resources has apparently reached its limits in
many countries, aquaculture is expected to produce the extra volume of fish
production required by the expanding world population.

3.5 T~RMINAL QUESTIONS

I) Discuss an overall scenario for the present status of global aquaculture with
respect to finfish, molluscs, and aquatic plants.

2) Write short notes on aquacultural activities of the following regions of the world.

i) South Pacific

49
Introduction to ii) Scb-Saharan Africa
Aquaculture ....................................................................................
....................................................................................
....................................................................................
....................................................................................
....................................................................................

3.6 ANSWERS

Self-assessment Questions

1. Ref. Sec. 3.2.

2. Ref. Sec. 3.2.

3. i) Asia, ii) Carps, iii) Milkfish, iv) Afganistan, v) Salmon

4. i) F, ii) F, iii) T, iv) F, v) T

Terminal Questions
1. Ref. Sec. 3.2.

2. i) South Pacific: Although the region contributes only about 2% oftotal world
fishery production. The fishery sector, together with tourism plays a critical
role in the economy of the South Pacific states and territories. The average
per capita consumption of fish in the region is 20 kg per year. Most of the
aquaculture production of the region is derived from coastal aquaculture.

ii) Sub-Saharan Africa: The average per capita consumption of fish is 7 kg

per annum. Aquaculture is not a traditional practice here. The region
contributes merely 0.2% of total global production. Freshwater fishes make
up over 80% of the total aquaculture harvest. Commercial step farming is
developing in some countries such as Medagascar, Guinea and Kenya.

50