| Abstrakt: |
This regional review presents the development status and aquaculture trends in the Asia-Pacific region from 2008 to 2018. It analyses the factors that drive aquaculture growth, examines the issues and challenges and provides perspectives of the way forward for future development of the sector. The document is one of a series of reviews on aquaculture development in different regions and globally prepared for the Global Aquaculture Conference 2020+ held in Shanghai. Aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific region continued to grow from 2008 to 2018 at an average annual growth rate of 5.2 percent. Total aquaculture production in the region reached a historical high of 105 million tonnes in 2018, which accounted for 92 percent of global aquaculture production. Eastern and South-eastern Asia produced 90 percent of the region's total, while negligible production was observed from Oceania and Central Asia, accounting for 0.3 percent of the region's total. Aquaculture contributed significantly to achieving SDGs in the region. It provided over 60 percent of the 2017 average annual per capita food fish consumption in the region of 24.1 kg, supplying 25.2 percent of the average animal protein intake. The total value of aquaculture production in the region reached USD 223 billion and the sector directly employed 19.6 million people across the region in primary production and about the same number of people in related supporting and service businesses in 2018. Aquaculture in the region has been making good progress to address its negative impact on environment and adapt to climate change for sustainability and resilience. It also contributes to conservation of aquatic biodiversity with hatchery seed production of endangered species for production and wild stock enhancement. Growth of aquaculture in the region has been driven by increasing demand for aquatic food in both domestic and international markets. The region has been the major producer and consumer of aquaculture products. It is also the major supplier, exporter and an increasingly important importer of aquaculture products in international trade. There has also been steady increase in the intraregional trade. Aquaculture development in the region has largely benefited from and been sustained by conducive government policies, well-established services such as aquafeed and quality seed production and supply, production intensification, improved animal health management, and strengthened overall sectoral governance. However, aquaculture growth in terms of the annual production growth rate has been slowing down especially in recent years and development is not geographically balanced across the region, indicated by production dominance by Eastern and South-eastern Asia, though great potential exists in other sub-regions. Some major issues challenging the growth of aquaculture in the region include the vulnerability of small-holders in access to resources and services, adaptation to climate change and other natural disasters, changing socioeconomic environment such as migration of young generation and market volatility caused by trade conflicts. Aquaculture in the region is expected to continue to grow to meet increasing demand for aquatic foods for growing populations. The growth will mainly be sustained through intensification with enhanced productivity and environmental performance. There is a need to further mainstream aquaculture into the national food production and nutrition security systems with adequate policy and resource priorities. Good governance needs to be promoted. Research needs to be strengthened with increased investment. Collaboration among multiple stakeholders and across the region needs to be strengthened to facilitate knowledge sharing, information dissemination and technology transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
