During the Astrakhan workshop in 2005, 13 NASOPAFAD country review studies and the draft Regional Aquaculture Review were presented and discussed. A series of common issues, constraints and trends were recognized for the region covering: predominance of carp production, low production levels, inefficient farm management and marketing, lack of skilled staff, financial and legal problems. Four major thematic areas were analysed: (a) policy framework, legislation and institutional systems; (b) farming systems, species and technologies; (c) processing and marketing (consumers' demand, labelling, certification); and (d) social aspects (food supply, employment, income generation). The workshop highlighted the following points: (a) the significance of aquaculture development in CEE has to be emphasized; (b) governments and other policy-makers should be informed about the opportunities and need of developing a sustainable aquaculture sector; (c) producers should recognize consumer demands and the increased market competition with other commodities; and (d) NACEE can play an important role in facilitating the information exchange in the region. The regional review indicates that there are opportunities for integrating aquaculture with other activities, for enhancing exports, and for strengthening institutional capacity building. There is need for research, technology development and investment to improve sustainability of existing farming systems, to promote diversification using additional and high value species, and to expand marine production systems. There is significant scope for improved human resources development, for better collaboration among farmers, and between science and practice, and for international collaboration, within the region and with institutions and organizations outside the region. 

The expansion between 1994 and 2003 was dominated by marine finfish production particularly of Atlantic salmon in Norway (71 percent), United Kingdom (19 percent) and Faeroe Islands (10 percent). Seabass and seabream farming in Greece, Turkey, Spain, Italy and France in 2003 accounted for 95 percent of production. The increased production and supply of fish was accompanied by falling farmgate prices triggering restructuring of the industry, as well as substantial increases in volume of the key finfish species. The review confirms features of a maturing aquaculture industry including specialization, increasing skills and professionalism, diversification of technology and products, efficient production, vertical integration and market development. The growing environmental and social awareness and recognition of consumer and food safety preferences by the industry and the public sector are contributing to good farm management and governance measures which are enabling effective efforts towards sustainable development and responsible practices in aquaculture.

A significant constraint to future aquaculture development is public concern about environmental risks associated with aquaculture, the safety of aquacultured products, and the potential impact of fish farms on marine ecosystems. The industry is responding to these concerns with the development of best management practices and environmental codes of practice to insure the long-term sustainability of land based, coastal and offshore aquaculture systems. Current production technology and the extensive environmental regulatory processes in place in Canada and the USA are effective in preventing these concerns from becoming problems. The document analyses the state and the trends in aquaculture development over the past few years in the North American region.

The regional review provides a description of how the aquaculture sector developed in Latin America and the Caribbean over the past decade. The review and analysis of data and information clearly show that the sector is growing exponentially with salmon, shrimp and tilapia as the leading species. However, according to data recorded by FAO it may be observed that during the last 10 years there are important increments in the production of other groups of species such as macroalgae, bivalves, caracids and catfish. Chile, Brazil, Mexico and Ecuador are the leading countries in terms of production for 2003. Most countries are showing a rapid growth of the sector thus having important social and economic effects on regional and local economies mostly through medium to larger scale commercial aquaculture. Rural aquaculture in Latin America is still largely dependent on State or international technical and financial support schemes. Overall, aquaculture in this region continues to grow steadily but will need greater organization and coordination between the private sector and government particularly to achieve larger social effects.

South Africa was also included. The production volume and value data have been derived from the latest FAO FISHSTAT Plus database. As part of the review process, a regional expert workshop was conducted in Mombasa, Kenya, in 2005, to discuss the regional aquaculture development status and trends. The report of this expert workshop is also included in this document. The synopsis provided here summarizes the current status and recent advances that have been made by the aquaculture sector in the sub-Saharan Africa region during the last decade and the last five years in particular.

The information from these workshops is also included in this regional review. In the last decade, the sector has demonstrated remarkable growth from 96 700 tonnes in 1994 to 566 250 tonnes in 2003, and the contribution of aquaculture to total fisheries increased from 4.5 percent to 18.7 percent. Nearly all countries are expected to increase their aquaculture production, manifest in increased production tonnage and diversity of culture species. Production is dominated by Egypt and the Islamic Republic of Iran, with Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen being emerging producers. In many instances, increases in production are driven by a need to increase reliability of the domestic supply. Production of protein for human consumption is dominant, particularly of finfish such as tilapia, carps and marine finfish species; the Indian white prawn is the only crustacean of significant economic importance. Within food fish production the main trends are increased culture of marine species, intensification, and more integrated agriculture-aquaculture. Within non-food species, the main trend is towards production of ornamentals. Successfully addressing four key priority issues is essential for the continued growth of aquaculture in the region: (i) farming systems, technologies and species; (ii) marketing and processing; (iii) health and diseases, and (iv) policies, legal frameworks, institutions and investment.

The production volume and value data have been derived from the latest FAO FISHSTAT Plus database. As part of the review process, a regional expert workshop was conducted in Ramzar, Islamic Republic of Iran, in 2006, to discuss the regional aquaculture development status and trends. The report of this expert workshop is also included in this review.
The regional review provides a description of how the aquaculture sector developed in Asia and the Pacific over the past three decades. The review and analysis of data and information clearly show that the sector is growing and expanding and is predicted to meet the increasing demand for aquatic food products in the years to come, with a few clear trends. These are: (a) increasing demand for aquaculture products; (b) increasing intensification of production systems; (c) continuing diversification of production systems and species farmed; (d) increasing influence of markets, trade, consumers and consumption; (e) enhanced regulation and better governance; and (f) drive towards better management. The review also attempts to analyse the trends and look at the sector’s sustainability and how the sector is behaving as a responsible food production sector in Asia and the Pacific.