Taiwanese Aquaculture：Facing Choices at the Crossroads

Abstract

As the global population has exceeded seven billion not too long ago, aquaculture is destined to play an even more important role than before in providing animal protein. Asian countries produce more than 91 percents of the world's total aquaculture production. Being a potential source of animal protein, aquaculture will definitely be a more important and vital contributor to solve the food problem in the future. This paper discusses both the technical and non-technical aspects of aquaculture to promote sustainable development of this knowledge-based industry, with emphasis on food safety. Technical strategies include consolidated standard operating procedure for each species, fish nutrition research, introduction of exotic species, selective breeding, disease control, and others. Non-technical strategies comprise training of personnel, proper licensing system, implementation of appropriate regulations and laws, efficient monitoring system, and establishment of local and global aquaculture networks. Aquaculture has been practiced and produced excellent results in Taiwan for more than half century. Our past ecperience and current technical knowhow in aquaculrue may thereby serve as good lessons for other countries in which the aquaculture industry is still under developing.