3.1.4 South Asia

Figure 3.1.4.1.
In 1995, South Asia produced 1.96 million mt of aquatic animals and plants valued at US$2.79 thousand million, contributing 7.1% by weight and 6.6% by value to global aquaculture production. Production increased by 206.3% between 1984 and 1995 at an APR of 10.7, with India being the largest producer (1.61 million mt in 1995) within the sub-region (Figure 3.1.4.1). In contrast, total capture fisheries production in South Asia increased by only 42% from 3.59 million mt in 1984 to 5.1 million mt in 1995. The share of aquaculture in total fisheries production in South Asia increased significantly during the past decade from 15.2% in 1984 to 27.8% in 1995.

Aquaculture is of great importance to local food fish consumption in many countries in this sub-region. The share of fish protein in total animal protein consumption in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 1993 was high (51.5% and 46.7%, respectively), while that in India was relatively low (12.7%). The per caput fish consumption in South Asia in 1993 ranged from 0.2 kg (Bhutan) to 15.4 kg (Sri Lanka). There was no marked change in per caput fish consumption in the sub-regional countries during 1984 to 1993, except in Bangladesh, which increased its per caput fish consumption by 1.2 kg (from 7.6 kg in 1984 to 8.8 kg in 1993) within a decade (Laureti, 1996).

Figure 3.1.4.2.
Over the past decade, the value of aquaculture products in South Asia increased from US$512 million in 1984 to US$2.79 thousand million in 1995 at an APR of 16.6. The aquaculture production trends in South Asia clearly reflect those of India, because India contributes 82.0% by weight and 76.8% by value to production from the sub-region. The reduced APR in India in 1990 possibly reflects the losses due to the exotic fish disease epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS), which affected a range of carps and other species (Roberts et. al., 1994) (Figure 3.1.4.2).

The contributions (by weight) of other countries in this sub-region in 1995 were: Bangladesh 16.4%; Pakistan 0.8%; Nepal 0.5%; and Sri Lanka 0.3%. However, the growth of aquaculture in these countries has been significant (except for Sri Lanka). During 1984 to 1995, production in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal increased by 174.7%, 77.8%, and 396.6%, respectively. Following 89.3% growth of production from 1984 to 1989, Sri Lanka showed a clear stagnation in production at around 5,500 mt during 1990 to 1994. This was mainly owing to the change of government policy in Sri Lanka, removing state assistance to aquaculture, and this hampered the fingerling stocking programme carried out by the government. The policy changed again in 1994, and the resumption of state stocking programme led to a subsequent increase in production in 1995.

South Asian aquaculture production is dominated by freshwater fish (94.2% in 1995). The remainder is nearly all from brackishwater; production from the marine environment was insignificant (48 mt in 1995). Freshwater fish production increased from 0.62 million mt in 1984 to 1.83 million mt in 1995 at an APR of 10.3. Cyprinids are the main species cultured; they include mainly the Indian major carps Labeo rohita, Catla catla, and Cirrhinus mrigala, with smaller contributions from Chinese carps, common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and other minor carps. These fish are produced under both monoculture and polyculture in South Asia. Tilapia production in the sub-region has remained low with little fluctuation (3,000 mt in 1984 and in 1995). This could be due to the relatively low acceptability of tilapia as a food fish species in some countries in the sub-region. Diadromous fish production, which includes the culture of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in India and Pakistan, totalled 1,200 mt in 1991. Since 1993 India has not reported any production of rainbow trout through aquaculture; production has thus declined to 20 mt from Pakistan. These figures do not take into account production from stocked natural or man-made lakes and other water bodies and floodplains, which are reflected in the FAO Inland Fisheries Statistics. The contribution of culture-based fisheries to food fish production in this sub-region is substantial.

Figure 3.1.4.3.
Crustacean aquaculture in South Asia is restricted to penaeid shrimp culture, except for a small amount of giant river prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) production in Bangladesh (311 mt in 1994 and not reported in 1995). The total crustacean production in the South Asian sub-region increased from 18,000 mt in 1984 to 134,000 mt in 1995 (an increase of over seven fold). This growth occurred in two distinct phases (Figure 3.1.4.3)--from 1984 to 1992 (APR 16.9) and from 1992 to 1994 (APR 39.2)--as a result of increased production of penaeid shrimp in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. In 1995, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan produced 97,000, 34,000, 3,000, and 48 mt of crustaceans, respectively. The value of total crustacean production in South Asia in 1995 was about US$953 million (34.2% of the total value of aquaculture in South Asia and 19.6% of the total crustacean production in South and Southeast Asia). However, there was a reduction in the total APR of crustaceans during 1994/95 (9.1), possibly a result of the shrimp viral disease outbreak in major producing countries, which created much concern about the future sustainability of shrimp culture in the sub-region (Kutty, 1997).

Marine finfish culture in South Asia is still in its infancy and at present does not contribute significantly to production. Although the Maldives has recently initiated some pilot-scale marine aquaculture programmes, no production has yet been reported to FAO.

In South Asia, aquaculture production still comes mainly from extensive and traditional freshwater farming systems. Production originating from stocked lakes (man-made and natural) and floodplains also contributes significantly. As demand for fish is increasing rapidly, the countries are endeavouring to intensify freshwater fish production and to diversify aquaculture, while continuing traditional and extensive farming. To succeed, they require more advanced technology, trained and experienced manpower, and much-needed capital expenditure. Some countries are looking into integration of aquaculture with agriculture, and rice-cum-fish culture and other forms of integrated aquaculture are becoming important to the sub-region (FAO/NACA, 1995).

It appears that the freshwater aquaculture sector has been expanding at a considerable rate over the past decade. Over 75 species have been identified as potential candidates for aquaculture. However, only a few species are currently cultured commercially (Indian major carps, Chinese carps, and a very few indigenous species). Organized farming of other species on a commercial scale has yet to be developed and this appears to be a significant constraint to diversification of aquaculture in this sub-region (Ganapathy, 1996).

Bangladesh, as a unique country in the sub-region with substantial annual flooding, continues to endeavour to increase freshwater fish production through floodplain stocking. As mentioned, this activity is considered within the culture-based fisheries category in the FAO Inland Fisheries Statistics. However, the lack of adequate seed, and the inadequate disease prevention and control programmes appear to constrain the future development of this sector (Subasinghe and Hussain, 1997).

The prospects for marine culture are not promising. Unfortunately, the long coastlines of India and Sri Lanka offer little scope for seafarming due to openness of the coast and regular stormy conditions during the southwest (June-September) and northeast (October-December) monsoons, although there are large sheltered areas in India and some islands which may be suitable for mariculture (FAO/NACA, 1995).

In South Asia, shrimp are mainly produced for export markets and the main producers are India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Environmental costs, social equity and sustainability have become important issues in shrimp culture development in these countries. Besides the disease outbreaks which have devastated the industry since 1993, product quality, consumer acceptability and human health concerns have also emerged as major issues in the shrimp sector (Anon., 1997). The demand for quality aquaculture products is becoming highly significant in the developed countries. In order to continue and survive in a competitive world, the quality of shrimp produced in the sub-region will have to be improved.

Aquaculture is growing rapidly and will continue to expand in this sub-region. It is unlikely that land and water will become limiting factors to the sectoral growth in most countries of the sub-region, although in some areas of India, freshwater availability may become a limiting factor. It will be interesting to see whether the sub-regional governments will give priority allocation of water and land to aquaculture over the next decade. As the sector grows, aquaculture diversification and intensification will become inevitable and a clear need for technological advancement for the commercial-scale farming of novel species will develop. Institutional involvement in aquaculture production and development will then be increased, and specialized scientific support, training, monitoring and regulation, etc., may slowly become linked to the private sector.

Although the availability of freshwater does not seem to be a limiting factor for future expansion of freshwater aquaculture, development of mariculture (particularly finfish) has commenced in countries where adequate and suitable marine water resources are available (such as India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka). This seems to contradict our view on the prospects for mariculture. The development of this sub-sector is being driven mainly by the demand for mariculture products in Southeast Asia, and this will create significant interest in developing appropriate technology and trained personnel to diversify the aquaculture sector in South Asia. Effective integrated coastal area management strategies will need to be adopted more widely and rigorously in order to avoid environmental drawbacks of marine and coastal aquaculture development, and to control impact from other non-aquaculture activities on environmental quality in coastal areas (Holmgren, 1994; FAO/NACA, 1995).

The future of the crustacean sub-sector (almost exclusively penaeid shrimp) will largely depend on whether or not national governments view shrimp culture as an environmentally friendly, sustainable, revenue-earning production sector with adequate social equity. Constitutional reforms; changes to existing legislative frameworks for aquaculture development; new policies for natural resource allocation, management and conservation; development of practical policies for privatization; etc., will have to take place in those countries wishing to see the sustainable development of shrimp culture (ADB/NACA, 1996). The issues of shrimp farm effluent management and pollution control will also have to be adequately addressed. Successful evolution of policies and strategies dealing with environmental issues, social equity and sustainability in shrimp aquaculture should lead to a more favourable climate for future coastal aquaculture development in general.

Future aquaculture development in South Asia will create a significant demand in developing hatchery technology and locally made artificial feed, and will help accelerate establishment and expansion of private sector aquaculture ventures. If large-scale, culture-based fishery development programmes with aquaculture inputs are to be successful in the long run, the socio-economic issues, such as land ownership, leasing procedures, common property rights, etc., need to be addressed and resolved adequately.

Overall, the outlook for aquaculture development in South Asia is good, as both commercial and subsistence farming continue to grow. However, The importance of future fish availability for food security and nutrition in highly populated countries in the sub-region such as India and Bangladesh, will be an issue to be monitored and addressed. Although aquaculture is expanding in the sub-region, it is timely to conduct a strategic survey and an evaluation of the contribution of aquaculture to poverty alleviation and rural development in these countries.

Anon. 1997. India protests over EU shrimp restrictions. Seafood International, August 1997, p.6.

ADB/NACA. 1996. Aquaculture sustainability action plan. Regional study and workshop on aquaculture sustainability and the environment (RETA 5534). Manila, Asian Development Bank, and Bangkok, Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific.

FAO/NACA. 1995. Regional study and workshop on the environmental assessment and management of aquaculture development. (TCP/RAS/2253) NACA Environment and Aquaculture Development Series No. 1. Bangkok, Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific.

Ganapathy, R. 1996. Aquaculture in India - A gold mine for investment. Aquaculture Magazine, January/February.

Holmgren, S. 1994. An environmental assessment of the Bay of Bengal region. BOBP/REP/67. Madras, Bay of Bengal Programme.

Kutty, M.N. 1997. The food and feeding of farmed shrimp in India. NACA Technical Series 1. Bangkok, Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific. 72p.

Laureti, E. (comp). 1996. Fish and fishery products: world apparent consumption statistics based on food balance sheets (1961-1993). FAO Fisheries Circular No. 821, Rev. 3. Rome, FAO. 235p.

Roberts R.J., G.N. Frerichs, K. Thonguthai and S. Chinabut. 1994. Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS) in wild and farmed fishes. Recent Advances in Aquaculture 5:207-236.

Subasinghe, R.P. and S. Hussain. 1997. Fish health management in Bangladesh floodplains. In C. Tsai and M.Y. Ali (eds.) Floodplain Fisheries in Bangladesh. Dhaka, Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies.