Aquaculture Successes in Asia: Contributing to Sustained Development and Poverty Alleviation

Abstract

Aquaculture, though considered to have over a 2500 year history, was mostly practiced as an art. It began to be transformed into a modern science in the second half of the 20th century. Within a period of 25 years or more, it had begun to impress upon as a major food production sector, having recorded an annual average growth rate of nearly 8% in the last two decades, as often purported to be the fastest growing primary production sector. Currently, aquaculture accounts for 50% of the global food fish consumption.

The sector has been and continues to be predominant in developing countries, particularly in Asia, which accounts for more than 85% of the global production. Asian aquaculture by and large is a small scale farming activity, where most prac-tices are family-owned, managed, and operated. The sector has provided direct and indirect livelihood means to millions, a significant proportion of which is rural, and for some Asian nations, it is a main source of foreign exchange earnings. Furthermore, it has contributed to food security and poverty alleviation, and is considered to be a successful primary food sector globally.