How can aquaculture help sustain world fisheries? In：D.A. Hancock, D.C. Smith, A. Grant and J.P. Beumer (eds.)

Abstract

The Earth is three-quarters water, containing a probable inexhaustible seafood resource for human needs. However, in recent years, world capture fisheries production has levelled off or declined, reaching a peak in 1989 at 88.67 million t. This suggests that the capture fisheries are being harvested near to their maximum sustainable yield. With the burgeoning world population, coupled with a growing demand for seafood, aquaculture has been increasingly tapped to fill the widening supply gap created by the stagnating capture fisheries production. While aquaculture may be seen as the answer to the shortcomings of capture fisheries, the prospects are not all that encouraging. As the aquaculture industry grows, so will conflicts with other users over such resources as water and land, particularly along the coasts. Four suggested major issues are expected to shed light on how aquaculture will be able to sustain world fisheries.These are resource partitioning, coastal zone management, stock enhancement, and new technology. The challenges for aquaculture are clear and the trends in aquaculture development will be examined to give some answers, referencing in some cases the Asian aquaculture experience, where a majority of the world's aquaculture products are produced.