This document was prepared within the framework of the FAO Fisheries Departments efforts to promote aquaculture as a financially self-sustained business, or commercial aquaculture, as one of the means of eradicating hunger and alleviating poverty in developing countries. The document surveys some of the methodologies available in the literature for assessing the contribution of a given sector, such as commercial aquaculture, to food security and economic growth and development. The document was produced through a desk study.