A general review of aquaculture research in Taiwan

Abstract

Although Taiwan is a mountainous island surrounded by seas, it is rather suitable for the development of aquaculture because of favorable geographical and climatic condictions. With the availability of about 300 years of traditional know-how techniques of aquaculture and through the hardwork of aquafarmers, Taiwan already had an annual aquaculture production of 20,000 metric tons during 1930s. In 1982, the total area dedicated to aquaculture reached 65,040 ha including 20,345 ha of brackish water ponds, 17,651 ha of freshwater pond, 18,551 ha of shallow sea aquaculture and 8,492 ha of aquaculture in reservoris and other impoundments. The aquaculture production in 1982 was 216,400 metric tons accounting for 23.4% in weight and 36.3% in monetary value of total fisheried production. Taiwan has become one of the few important aquaculture countries in the world with not only a long history of practies but also a high degree fo technical development. The 1960's was a most remarkable era and can be considered the milestone of the history of aquaculture development in Taiwan. The success in the experiments of induced sapwning of Chinese carps (Ctenopharyngodon idellus and Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) in 1963, the success in the artifical propagation of grass prawn (Penaeus monodon) in 1968 the breakthrough made in the induced spawning and larval rearing of grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) in 1969 and milkfish (Chanos chanos) in 1979 and 1982 made possible the development of artificial propagation techniques for freshwater fish, prawn and marine fish respectively in Taiwan. Fifty-two species of aquatic organisms are currently under aquaculture, and 25 more candidate species with high potential for aquaculture will be added to the list in the near future. Because of the 200 mile exclusive economic zones enacted by many countries in the world, the role played by aquaculture in total fisheries production will become even more important. The suggested pattern of aquaculture from now on should not be restricted to the traditional aquafarming on land but should be modified to include both traditional land aquafarming and searanching. This paper briefly reviews the aquaculture research that has been done in Taiwan. Descriptions are made with reference to the culture of eel, Chinese crap, tilapia, milkfish, grey mullet, prawn, mollusc and algae. The prospects for future development of aquaculture in Taiwan are summerized and briefly discussed.