Biodiversity and fisheries and aquaculture development in Taiwan. In：F. di Castri and T. Younes (eds.)

Abstract

Biodiversity has been defined in various ways, ranging trom the diversity in genes, species, ecosystems, to biological resources in general (e.g. Solbrig, 1991; Flint, 1991; Solbrig and Nicolis, 1991; WRI/IUCH/UNEP, 1992; CGIAR 1992). Since aquaculture - the husbandry of aquatic organism - and fisheries (capture) - the exploitation of aquatic resources - are both practised mainlv tor economic purposes and are considered primary industries that deal closely with living organisms and livelihood, biodiversity in aquaculture and fisheries will be elaborated in this chapter from both bio- and socioeconomic view- points so that a broader understanding between biodiversity and fisheries and aquaculture development in Taiwan can be made. It is natural for Taiwan, an island nation surrounded by seas and with a deeply rooted seafood-loving custom, to rely heavily on seafood tor animal protein. This tendency results in a vast and increasing demand for seafood. Such demand has established both fisheries and aquaculture as the basic purpose of a primary industry. Depletion of fishery resources due to over- fishing and deteriorated aquatic environment further powered the develop- ment of aquaculture and brought to light the importance of sea ranching. Large-scale expansion of the aquaculture industry started when aquaculture was used to produce commodities for export and earning foreign exchange to cope with the development of an export-oriented and industry-based economy (Chien, 1990) - the culture species being used is thus focused on export- oriented ones. The adverse impacts on the natural environment brought about by a rapidly growing aquaculture industry through the overutilization of natural resources, such as land and water. have raised the issue of conserva-tion and have constrained the direction and pace of aquaculture development toward a more environment friendly one. This chapter aims to see what possible roles biodiversity has played in Taiwan during the shift from industry development to conservation.