GAC | WHY AQUACULTURE?

GLOBAL AQUACULTURE CONSULTANTS (GAC)
Development/Evaluation/Training

81 Fieldwood Drive
Toronto, Ontario
M1V 3G3 Canada

Tel: (416) 297-6045
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"In the present situation of world food shortage, techniques for intensive
production, particularly of prime protein food, like fish, deserves utmost
consideration and top priority."
~K.H. Alikunhi, 1971

World demand for seafood is sky-rocketing while
capture fisheries has already reached a maximum
sustainable yield of about 95 million tons since 1980
because over-fishing, degradation of coastal marine-
freshwater ecosystems and habitats caused dramatic
declines in global catches.

About 90% of the oceans’ population of edible fish,
like cod, halibut and tuna has been cut off due to
high technology in global fishing, using sonar and
satellite combined with extremely long fishing nets.

Recently, Richard Black, Environment Correspondent,
BBC News website, wrote: “Only 50 Years Left for Sea
Fish: There will be virtually nothing left to fish from the
seas by the middle of the century if current trends
continue according to a major scientific study by an
international team of researchers.

Stocks have collapsed in nearly one-third of sea
fisheries and the rate of decline is accelerating.

However, a greater use of protected areas could
safeguard existing stocks, otherwise, this century will be
the last century of wild seafood”!

The status quo, resulted in the emergence of
aquaculture as the “Blue Revolution” of the present
and the future, an environmentally friendly production
land-based and off-shore culture systems which farm
over 210 species of finfish, mollusks, crustaceans and
seaweeds that supply large quantities of low-price
food fish and shellfish.

Ronald J. Roberts of Sterling University, Scotland, was
absolutely right when he mentioned: “Four fifth of the
surface of our planet is water. Culture of these waters
for the benefit of mankind is only beginning.”

A collage highlighting the diversity of cultivable species and culture systems
of the "Blue Revolution".

During the past three decades, aquaculture has
expanded, diversified, intensified and made
remarkable technological advances.

The production of aquaculture has increased at an
average compounded rate of 9.2% per year since
1970, compared with only 1.4% for capture fisheries
and 2.8% for terrestrial meat production systems.

Currently, aquaculture is the fastest growing food
production sector in all regions of the world except
sub-Saharan Africa.

Aquaculture yields about 60 million tons annually and
accounts for 43% of the world’s fish supply for direct
human consumption.

Aquaculture is expected to fill a gap of 50 to 80 million
tons of fish and seafood which capture fisheries will not
supply on a sustainable basis beyond the 95 million
tons per year.

Now, increasing emphasis is placed on enhanced
enforcement of regulations and better governance of
aquaculture in order to supplement the shortage of
fish supply from capture fisheries, satisfy consumer
demand and contribute to the nutritional security of
the poor in many developing countries where fish
provide more than 50% of the annual protein intake.

For these reasons, the Kyoto Declaration on
Aquaculture at the First International FAO Technical
Conference on Aquaculture in 1976, Kyoto, Japan,
urged all governments of the world to give high priority
to aquaculture development in national planning and
also, the international financing agencies to recognize
aquaculture as a priority sector for investment and
provide adequate financial support for aquaculture
development in developing countries especially,
those in sub-Saharan region with great natural
potentials.

By TT George at Aquaculture Canada 2007.

WHY AQUACULTURE?

T.T. George