Aquaculture: Trends and Issues

Aquaculture, most simply defined as the rearing or farming or aquatic species under controlled conditions, is a rapidly growing industry, accounting for over one-third of all direct fisheries consumption. It is an important economic activity in many countries and offers a number of opportunities to contribute to poverty alleviation, employment, community development, the reduction of over-exploitation of natural resources, and food security in tropical and sub-tropical regions. The rapid growth in aquaculture seems set to continue in the near term. Indicators pointing to good growth potential include increasing demand for fish, emergence of aquaculture as a sector for investment, and recognition of its potential for expansion, and growing awareness of sustainability needs. The challenge for aquaculture in the new millennium is to expand sustainable aquaculture to achieve enhanced food security and economic development for the world’s people. There is every prospect that this can be realised if the mechanisms can be found to improve support to existing producers, spread successful methods to new regions, and boost the regional and international transfer of information and technology. This book identifies the main issues and trends in aquaculture from a global perspective. It is designed for students, teachers, researchers, policy-makers, civil society an those who derive their livelihood from the sector.