Aquaculture Development Beyond 2000:
Global Prospects¹
Keynote Address II

Fellow Participants.

It is my pleasure to be here today, at this Conference on Aquaculture in the Third Millennium, to deliver this Second Keynote Address entitled “Aquaculture Beyond 2000: Global Prospects”.

During the last Keynote Address, Dr. Pillay elaborated the journey from Kyoto to Bangkok. Dr. Subasinghe’s Introduction covered the scope and purpose of the Conference. In my Keynote, I do not intend to provide you with a detailed analysis of specific trends in the aquaculture sector. They will be covered by the regional and global trends reviews and the thematic reviews that will be presented over the next few days.

Rather, in this Keynote Address, I will attempt to look at some broad global trends, key issues and constraints, and important challenges and development prospects for the future, in realising the full potential of aquaculture for humankind. I would like you to debate, discuss and consider these “Food for Thought” ideas over the next few days, in order to achieve our objectives of the Conference.

In my presentation, I attempt to cover, briefly, within the given 25 minutes or so, the following:

• Short introduction and an overview of the aquaculture sector today;
• Major trends and issues – where do we stand?;
• Future aquaculture development – prospects and outlook; and
• Conclusions.

Introduction and overview

Over the past three decades, aquaculture has developed to become the fastest-growing food-producing sector in the world. Aquaculture has expanded, diversified, intensified and advanced technologically and, as a result, its contribution to aquatic food production has also increased significantly. Aquaculture is highly diverse and consists of a broad spectrum of systems, practices and operations ranging from simple backyard, small-household pond systems to large-scale, highly intensive, commercially oriented practices. A large proportion of aquaculture production comes from small scale producers in developing countries and Low Income Food Deficit Countries (LIFDCs).

The world population is on the increase, as is the demand for aquatic food products. Production from capture fisheries at a global level is levelling off, and most of the main fishing areas have reached their maximum potential. Global fish supply could be increased through reduction of discards and better use of by-catch for human consumption, e.g. use of at least part of the catch now going for reduction to fishmeal and fish oils. Better management of fishery resources and enhanced efforts to protect fishery resources from accelerating environmental degradation, particularly in inland waters and estuaries, may well contribute to sustained, if not enhanced, fish supplies in the medium to long term.

However, aquaculture appears to have stronger potential to meet the increasing demands for aquatic products in most regions of the world. Potential contributions from aquaculture to local food security and livelihoods can be highly significant, especially in many remote and resource-poor rural areas. However, it appears that the full potential of the aquaculture sector to contribute to human development and social empowerment is yet to be realized, and the sector may require new approaches to realize its goals beyond 2000. These approaches will undoubtedly differ between different countries, and depend on country-specific circumstances and national development plans, goals and aspirations. The challenge is to develop such approaches, which are realistic and achievable, within the context of current social, economic, environmental and political circumstances. Such approaches should not focus only on increasing production; they should also focus on producing a product that is affordable, acceptable and accessible to all sectors of society.

Major trends and issues – where do we stand?

Aquaculture is an activity that produces nutritious, high-value species using sophisticated systems; a mechanism for local food security, rural livelihoods and poverty alleviation; and a sector that provides both income (local and foreign exchange), employment and food security.

In some regions, aquaculture faces a considerable problem with public perception. Yes, in some cases, aquaculture development has failed to keep up with, or meet, many environmental and socio-economic issues and expectations. Future aquaculture development needs to produce a product that is not only acceptable to the public and consumers in terms of price, quality and safety, but also in terms of environmental cost.

Development prospects and outlook

The constraints in farming can be highly complex and often of a technical/technological nature. However, the overall success of farming may depend largely on economic and social issues. The challenge will be to focus on meeting social needs – i.e. food security, poverty, livelihoods, community development etc., rather than solely trying to produce aquatic animals. While doing so, the sector should be well integrated into the overall development programme so that conflicts can be minimized. It is also important that necessary technical/technological means/solutions and capacity building needs are met for the future success of the sector. Aquaculture will continue to grow, but has to address the costs of production, quality and safety of products, international trade obligations and requirements, environmental concerns etc. More emphasis on investment, research, information and public education is needed. Challenges for increasing aquaculture’s contribution to food security, poverty alleviation and rural livelihoods will have to be met.

We have to assist in social development, poverty alleviation and improving the livelihoods of people. In doing so, there is a need to increase emphasis on aquaculture and aqua-farmers in national social and economic development plans, with the view to enhance institutional and financial support for the sector. This can only be achieved through investing in human resources, including existing and future aquaculture practitioners, as well as government and non-government agencies and institutions. Investing in training, education, extension, information and communication are important in this respect. Use of modern information and communication tools and methods such as the Internet and other state-of-the-art communication methodologies will have to be given due consideration, as will the essential requirement to ensure broad-based public access, especially for farmers, to these sources of information.

We must create and provide an enabling environment, with appropriate policy and legal and institutional frameworks to facilitate access to key development resources, such as financial resources and knowledge. There is a strong need for greater emphasis on institutional support, that is, support not only to government ministries and public-sector agencies dealing with administration, extension and research and development, but also to organizations and institutions representing the private sector, consumers and other stakeholders.

Aquaculture development, especially if it is to be sustainable for food security goals, may need to be stimulated, at least in the beginning, so there should be a key point on increasing access to credit for farmers, producers and local marketing. It is important to understand the investment opportunities in the sector. In an era of globalization, it is imperative to emphasize national and international trends of trade. Trade of aquaculture produce, input supplies, capital and information are all important to mention and acknowledge.

During production, there should be emphasis on targeting the consumers. We must emphasize the difference between mass production and production for the masses. For example, formerly expensive produce such as salmon and shrimp are increasingly becoming affordable to larger segments of the population. We should compete with, and complement, other food-producing sectors and providers. Aquaculture produce should be acceptable to all sectors of society. Tremendous gains will be possible through improved biotechnology, genetic modification, improved nutrition, probiotics, and disease diagnosis and treatment. However, the problem of consumer resistance to perceived risks stemming from “unnatural” products, ethical problems and fear of unknown technologies will affect potential gain. Environmental and human health issues will slow development or reduce market access. Strategic solutions are required. We should emphasize biosafety issues, development and promotion of biotechnology that conserve the environment. We should promote policies that support ethical issues of welfare and autonomy, and emphasize labelling and transparency for production process and beneficiaries. There is a need to increase the impact of research to understand technical and other constraints and to enhance the applicability and use of research results in the development of strategies to overcome these challenges.

Conclusions

The challenge for the new millennium should be sustainable aquaculture development for enhanced food security and economic development. Prospects for future aquaculture development are good! The envisaged expectations can be achieved! To ensure this, we must create appropriate environments for improved support to producers, enhanced participation, better networking and information exchange and strong regional and inter-regional cooperation.