Aquaculture in Taiwan：A reassessment. In：D.S. Liao (ed.)

Abstract

Most aquaculture farms in Taiwan are located in remote and undeveloped areas that are otherwise unsuitable for other industrial uses. In spite of this, Taiwan still managed to become an aquacultural leader with help from the private, research, and government sectors. The aquaculture industry grew at a rapid pace, leading to the establishment of several sub-businesses, particularly of the formulated feed industry. The success of aquaculture in Taiwan has become well known worldwide. Inadequate and inappropriate aquacultural policies and management systems coupled with a fixation toward increasing production has, however, resulted in an unstable environment for the development of aquaculture in Taiwan. For example, the fast growth of the industry has inevitably resulted in certain ill effects, such as land subsidence and environmental pollution. Since the mass mortality in the grass prawn culture industry in 1988, the prawn culture industry in Taiwan has not yet recovered In addition, the surge of milkfish production in 1990 not only severely impaired milkfish farmers, but also showed the inadequacy of the government policies to cope with such market disaster. Through the joint effort of researchers and aquafarmers, the industry showed its resourcefulness to deal with adversity. Although the industry appears bright due to increased research, active technology transfer, diversification of aquaculture species and operations, improvement in aquaculture techniques and engineering, expansion of biotechnological studies, and establishment of a network of seafood markets, many problems still need to be resolved These problems include poor policy planning, shortage of water resources, continuous degradation of the aquaculture environment, decline in aquacultural productivity, uncompromising aquafarmers, inadequate regulation and management systems. The success of aquaculture in Taiwan over the years has resulted in an accumulation of capital and the development of advanced techniques and technologies. Unfortunately, due in part to the problems already mentioned, aquaculture has been considered a foundering industry. This paper reassesses the industry from several viewpoints — including policy, technology, species selection, industry structure, disease prevention and control, extension services, and marketing — to better plan for the future and long-term development of the aquaculture industry in Taiwan. It is hoped that with this plan will evolve a revitalized aquaculture industry in Taiwan.