|
One of the important activities of the Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission (APFIC) is to provide its members with an overview of the status and potential of fisheries and aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific region. The region currently produces almost 50 percent of the world's fish from capture fisheries and 90 percent from aquaculture. Fish and fisheries are important in supplying animal protein and nutrition to a large part of the Asian-Pacific populations, and are increasingly becoming an important source of income and trade for the region. There are many differences, most obviously geographical, between the sub-regions and seas of the region, but there are also many common trends that will have a large impact on the future supply of fish. One alarming trend is the rapid decline in the status of coastal fishery resources and ecosystems throughout the region. Aquaculture production is increasing, with a large part of this increase being driven by massive growth in China. However, much of this aquaculture growth is dependent on the use of "trash fish" for feeding the cultured species (either directly or by processed fish meal/oil), and is not sustainable in the long term unless major changes take place in the management of capture fisheries and in aquaculture practices. This report provides an excellent summary of the major trends and future potential for fisheries and aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific region and provides an insight into the many challenges that will need to be addressed if fisheries and aquaculture are to continue to contribute significantly to food security and poverty reduction in the region.
|
