九十年代台灣水產養殖的現況與展望

Abstract

Aquaculture in Taiwan has a history of more than 300 years. Its development can be divided into four stages, namely, traditional stage (1661-1962), prosperous stage (1963-1987), transition stage (1988-1989), and outreach stage (1990 onwards). Aquaculture during the first stage was characterized by simple trapping, to trapping-holding, to trapping-holding-growing practices. Production during this stage was low and slow. This changed, however, when a fast and steady growth in production was experienced from the early 1960s to the late 1980s. This growth was largely due to several revolutionary breakthroughs in research during the 1960s. In spite of the successes, Taiwan started to encounter several difficulties and problems between 1988 and 1989 that were attributed to its rapid rise to aquaculture prominence. These problems include poor or lack of government aquaculture policies, disease infestations, land depression and salination of ground water near the aquacultural areas, pollution and adverse environmental impact. Despite these setbacks, hopes are still very high. Scientists, farmers, and others in the industry have united to look into these difficulties. Taiwan has gone a long way in its aquaculture efforts. It is now at a point where it is capable of extending its mature technologies to other countries. It is a challenging time for Taiwan, a time to reflect on its new role, as it faces the future.