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2. BACKGROUND TO CHINESE AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT

The long tradition behind Chinese aquaculture is too well known to be mentioned, but what is probably not so widely known is that many of the revolutionary changes that have taken place since China's liberation have contributed substantially to accelerated efforts for increasing production through fish farming. It has developed as an integral part of the overall farming system which, in the words of Chairman Mao, is the foundation for the development of modern China. The country has some 300 million mu of freshwater area, of which at least 100 million mu are suitable for fish farming. About 20 million mu of this is now under some form of cultivation; obviously, there are vast areas still available for expansion of freshwater aquaculture. It is not only ponds that are used for fish farming; larger bodies of water such as natural lakes, reservoirs, canals and small rivers and their tributaries are also used for fish cultivation. Collective ownership has made the management of such large water areas for fish farming feasible. Coastal aquaculture is still rather undeveloped, but oyster and sea-weed farming have been introduced are expanding fairly rapidly. Apparently there is great scope for accelerated production in this sector as well, but the major emphasis appears to be on the expansion and intensification of freshwater aquaculture.

Out of about 200 economically important species of fish occurring in China, it is reported that the following 25 (including introduced species) are cultured in ponds:

1.

Silver carp

Hypophthalmichthys molitrix

2.

Big head carp

Aristichthys nobilis

3.

Grass carp

Ctenopharyngodon idella

4.

Black carp

Mylopharyngodon piceus

5.

Mud carp

Cirrhina molitorella

6.

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

7.

Crucian carp

Carassius auratus

8.

Wuchan fish

Megalobrama amblycephala

9.

Black bream

Megalobrama terminalis

10.

White Amur bream

Parabrama pekinensis

11.

Freshwater Yellowtail

Xenocypris argentea

12.

Small scale

Plagiognathops microlepis

13.

Tilapia

Tilapia mossambica

14.

Tilapia

Tilapia nilotica

15.

Mandarin fish 1/

Siniperca chautsi

16.

Spotted Mandarin fish1/

Siniperca scherzeri

17.

Snakehead1/

Ophiocephalus argus

18.

Grey mullet1/

Mugil cephalus

19.

Red-eyed mullet1/

Mugil soiny

20.

Chinese sturgeon

Acipenser sinensis

21.

Japanese eel

Anguilla japonica

22.

Loach

Misgurnus anguillicandatus

23.

Rainbow trout

Salmo gairdneri

24.

Round snout

Distoechodon tumirostris

25.

Red eye

Squalibarbus curriculus

1/ Cultured only on a very limited scale

National statistics of aquaculture production were not available but local production figures from some of the areas visited were obtained. From these and other relevant information, it would appear that the earlier FAO estimate of a total production of 2.5 million t, including production from ponds, lakes, reservoirs, rivers and coastal areas, is valid.2/ It was reported that over 20 thousand million fry of freshwater fishes are produced and distributed in the country. On a country-wide basis, production is reported to be 50-60 jin/mu in open waters and 250-300 jin/mu in ponds.

2/ This was confirmed by further enquiries during a later visit to China by the group leader in 1979

Fish culture is undoubtedly more developed in areas with controlled irrigation and rural electrification. Free or cheap sources of water and electricity have contributed to improvements and some amount of mechanization of farming operations. Roughly half of the country appears to have such favourable conditions. Climate has also influenced the development of aquaculture and accounts for some of the regional differences, in the extent of fish culture operations. The southern part of the country, which has a warm climate, allows a year-round growth of fish conducive to high productivity. In the northern part, the growing season is restricted to only 4-5 months; whereas in the rest of the country, which has a temperate climate, the growing period is 7-8 months. Consequently, there appears to be a greater concentration of fish farming in the southern part of the country and in the major river basins and coastal areas.

In discussing the background to Chinese aquaculture development, it is important to take into account the sources of motivation for leaders and workers in production units. Adherence to political ideology and Communist Party directives plays a decisive role in the organization and implementation of aquaculture. Chairman Mao's instruction to: "take grain as the key link and ensure all-round development of agriculture, industry, animal husbandry, forestry, sideline occupations and fisheries" has undoubtedly given great impetus to the traditional practice of integrated crop, livestock and fish productions The directive to achieve the targets of production set to meet the country's requirements through a series of provincial, county, commune, production brigade and production team plans, both of long-term and short-term nature, is readily followed. There is obviously considerable discussion at different levels; and there is participation by the people concerned in deciding on the ways and means by which these targets are to be achieved. But the need to produce the country's requirements of foodstuffs through self-reliance is fully accepted and economic options do not figure too prominently in the discussions. Chairman Hua's exhortation that the suburban area should become a base for supplying food to the urban area, has spurred intensive farming operations in suburban communes and production brigades in different parts of the country. The resolution of the Fifth National Congress that the country should achieve comprehensive modernization of agriculture, industry, national defence and science and technology by the end of the century, has given rise to an eagerness to mechanize farm operations, and to learn from other advanced countries. Adoption of three "localizations", "hatch locally, stock locally and catch locally", has characterized the development of fish farming.

Slogans are very widely used to motivate the masses. "Wherever there is water, there should be fish", "Freshwater fishery is the sideline of agriculture", "In fisheries, do stocking and catching in rotation", "Lay stress on culture and simultaneous development of culture and capture" and "Learn from Dazhai" are some of the slogans commonly used in campaigns for aquaculture development.


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