Marine Aquaculture Development and Distribution - Assignment Example

Topic: Marine Aquaculture Development and Distribution Status and Recent Trends in Mariculture development globally Mariculture is the growing of marine organisms under controlled conditions in oceans or in any other aquaculture facility containing sea water, such as in raceways, ponds as well as tanks. Finfish and shellfish are the major food products of mariculture. Mariculture was the largest contributor (35%) of the total global aquaculture production. Statistics from FAO (2002) indicate that out of the 35%, the finfish were 82% while the shellfish were 22%. Salmon and mullet are the major finfish species that have a high economic value in mariculture. Shrimps on the other hand have the highest economic value among the shellfish. Salmon and shrimp are accredited for the growth of global mariculture (Stickney, 1999). In recent years, many developing countries have made significant accomplishments in mariculture production. However, there are increased concerns regarding the increased culture of salmon, shrimp and other carnivorous mariculture species that affect the wild fish stocks. They are fed on processed wild capture fishes, which may have a negative impact on food security even though they are economically viable. The economic gains for the cultured carnivorous species are short lived compared to sustainable capture fishes that are significant for food security. Many countries have developed policies to enhance eco-friendly mariculture. China, Russia, South Africa and Honduras in Latin America are among the nations that have put in place policies to support mariculture projects. USAID and other environmental stakeholders have contributed to the establishment of sustainable environmental friendly mariculture in various countries. This has been accomplished through capacity building in some selected third world countries such as Indonesia, Republic of Tanzania and Honduras among others. These projects are aimed at improving the food security of the poor coastal communities as well as acting as a source of income for improved standards of living (Stanley, 2003). In Asia where aquaculture is a significant source of food and income, mariculture contributes 37% of the overall finfish and shellfish production, totaling 10.8 million tons (Stickney, 1999). In recent years, China’s mariculture production has been on the rise, with close to 60% of the global production coming from the country in 2005. India and Japan are also major producers of mariculture products, as well as Bangladesh. Japan’s production has been facilitated by the improvements in techniques for seed production as well as the practice of cage culture. The increased production of finfish for the up market has resulted in the reduction of prices, which is a major challenge facing mariculture. Between 1995 and 1998, the carnivorous fishes such as the salmon were highly profitable especially in Italy which is a major market for sea fin fishes. The European market has been a major market for mariculture products. However, over production has resulted in a drop in fish prices, which has lowered their economic viability. Nevertheless, they remain fundamental to food security especially in the countries that experience food deficits more often (Hancock et al. 1997). Increased research and development has led to advancements in mariculture, for example the recent adoption of cage culture that is used for its capacity to allow the fish to thrive under exposure. More fish species are being introduced in mariculture as offshore technology continues advancing. Sea weed production is also a major income generating activity globally. Countries such as Chile, Japan and many East Asia countries have maintained an increased trend in sea weed production. This increase is attributed to the demand of sea weeds for human consumption as well as for medical purposes. Norway is among the pioneers of sea weed production, having started in the 1960s while on the other hand, China has maintained leadership in the production of seaweed for human consumption (Stickney, 1999). Nature and Distribution of Finfish, Shellfish and Seaweed Mariculture Finfish are usually cultured in open waters of the sea. However, research has led to innovations in cage culture, which has improved mariculture production globally. The countries that have suitable coastlines for mariculture such as in the OSPAR region where human activities are minimal have been the major producers of mariculture products. Human population in the region is low, which means that environmental degradation is minimal. The major reason why the region has a high potential for mariculture is the fact that there are no other economic activities apart from fishing and crude oil extraction (Stickney, 1999). In Russia, the region in the North West is a major producer of mariculture products. Others include Iceland and Norway as well as the Faroe Islands. Modern culture methods such as cage culture have made it possible for finfish production. However, cage culture involves higher inputs in terms of feeds due to the fact that the cages can not provide sufficient natural feeds. Norway and Russia attach much value to finfish mariculture, which is a major sector in the two countries. Australia has also begun practicing large scale mariculture, with species such as Lates calcarifer and Coryphaena hippurus being produced by established companies through mariculture. The fish produced are used for food security as well as replacement of the depleted wild stocks. Sea Hatcheries Limited is one of the companies in Queensland that produces fingerlings for mariculture. The Asian pacific region is also a major producer of finfish through cage mariculture. The carnivorous Cromileptes altivelis is cultured in this region. Others include coral trout (Plectropomus spp) and tiger grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus). The Indonesian Sulawesi Island has a great potential for mariculture, and the country’s government has sacrificed much efforts for the promotion of marine fish culture. It is among the less developed countries that USAID offers support for mariculture development such as Tanzania and Kenya. Other countries that have finfish mariculture in the Asian region include; Thailand, China and Vietnam. In the US, the practice of finfish mariculture began in the late 1970s and has continued expanding in the North-West Pacific region. Recent advancements have been focused on the Atlantic, with the cage culture of Salmon being the key species of interest. Mariculture of finfish is under experimentation in the Gulf of Mexico, while in South Africa it is in its developmental stage. In general, finfish mariculture is widely distributed globally in the shorelines of many countries as well as in the inland seas in countries such as Israel and India (Stanley, 2003). Shell fish mariculture is also widely practiced globally, especially with the recent understanding in various developing countries regarding the economic value of shellfish. In China, that is one of the leading producers of shellfish from mariculture, research has facilitated its development in by enhancing production through maintaining the right carrying capacity. Australia is also among the major producers of shellfish from mariculture. However, many other pacific countries produce more shellfish through mariculture compared to Australia where the practice began recently. The most cultured species are pearl oysters, prawns and scallops among others. Many European countries have gradually been increasing their shellfish production. Scotland’s production mainly in the West coast is low compared to other European countries. African countries such as Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania are gradually increasing their shellfish production. In general, shellfish production is distributed globally along the coastlines of many countries (Shang, 2003). Sea weed production has also become a major economic activity globally. In many East Asian countries, production of sea weeds is mainly for dietary purposes. They contribute to the countries’ food security, whereby China is the largest producer, with Laminaria having been produced through mariculture since the early 1950s. Others such as Korea and Japan follow closely with production increasing year after year. Seaweed production has also increased as a result of the continuous research. Many species are major recipes for important sanitary products such as soap and toothpaste among others. For this reason, developing countries are increasing their seaweed production through mariculture to satisfy the increasing demand. Seaweed mariculture in South Africa is a relatively new practice dating back in 1996. In Tanzania, seaweed production began earlier through tests conducted in the early 1970s. The practice was later adopted in Kenya, and the two countries have continued improving their seaweed production through government support for mariculture, making East Africa a major seaweed producing region (Ling, 2003).   Sustainable Aquaculture Development Many countries are currently supporting aquaculture as a major economic activity. This has partly been as a result of the rising need for sustainable food security to satisfy the soaring population. Global climate change has led to the depletion of many food sources, which has led to the increased pressure on fishing as the alternative source of food. For this reason, wild fisheries have become exhausted but the demand for fish keeps on increasing. To control this pressure, governments have turned to promoting aquaculture to replenish the wild stocks as well as to prevent their over-exploitation. On the other hand, aquaculture is a major income earner as the price of fish has continued to skyrocket with the reduction in fish supplies. Even the large aquaculture firms are unable to satisfy this demand and therefore farmers are being sensitized by their governments to engage in aquaculture, which has improved the standards of living for many. The sustainability aspect begins with the presence of farmers who are ready to sacrifice areas on their farms as well as spend time in managing the aquaculture systems to accomplish their financial needs. Moreover, research and development has led to professionalism in aquaculture, which has increased productivity. There are schools in Japan and other universities in Africa that offer courses specializing in aquaculture. Baird et al. (1996) observes that new knowledge is continuously being discovered in aquaculture, and there is a lot that still remains to be done. Development of aquaculture globally is therefore sustainable. A positive aspect of aquaculture that makes the practice sustainable is the fact that it is environmental friendly and therefore may not encounter resistance from environmental bodies (Hall, 1999). Moreover, the size of land required to accomplish aquaculture goals is small. For example, in many developing countries, land is usually unproductive and water shortage is a major issue that remains unaddressed. Farmers need to have access to small sizes of land for aquaculture. A pond of 300 m2 filled with sea water can be used to produce 900-1000 fish per 8 months season, while floating cages of small sizes can be used to produce a substantial number of fish for one rearing period in sea water (Stickney, 1999). In other words, aquaculture is an economic activity that requires few inputs while the output is large. Research has also led to the realization that shellfish and some seaweed have high nutritive values. Moreover, seaweeds are also used in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals as well as hygienic products. In other words, production of differentiated products through aquaculture is a significant strategy for enhancing its sustainability. Ling (2003) argues that the sustainability of any economic program requires diversity of economic ventures, which can act as substitutes in case of failure. Moreover, economic gains can be accomplished from each of the products from aquaculture since there are different markets that require them. For example, the cultured fish applies to virtually all markets while seaweed and shellfish have varied consumers. In other words, there can never be surplus production in aquaculture that would lead to losses. FAO is also an important body that has helped in strengthening the sustainability of aquaculture. Governments and non-governmental bodies are also playing a significant role in promoting sustainable aquaculture, such as the intervention of USAID to promote mariculture in Indonesia and Tanzania among other countries. Socio-Economic Claims surrounding Mariculture Development Mariculture is one of the major sectors that provide employment for a large population globally. FAO (2002) reports indicate that opportunities for mariculture development available have not fully been exploited, and the sector has a potential of employing a larger number of people. The fact that people have not yet been fully sensitized regarding the significance of mariculture is the major hindrance in the advancement of the sector. However, there are other socio-economic issues that affect mariculture development. Just like any other sector in a country’s economy, policy formulation, however much it may be focused on the improvement of people’s livelihoods, the benefits are not the same amongst individuals. Some usually acquire more benefits than the rest especially in regard to the accessibility of shared resources. For example, a government may set up a budget to support mariculture projects in a country, but the people who benefit are those who have access to sea water. The rest of the population feel marginalized and in essence would appreciate if other development projects were supported. This is a major socio-economic issue that affects the development of mariculture since the beneficiaries depend on the aggrieved that are the target market for the mariculture products. They may decide not to buy from their presumed rivals in government sponsored projects (Stanley, 2003). It also happens that when research and development are brought to the community, it is only the elite in terms of education, and knowledge that benefit. Mariculture presents an economic opportunity to a vast population but only those who can understand the concepts benefit. However, many governments have engaged well versed individuals to provide extension services for everyone to understand and benefit from mariculture. Age is also a factor when deciding on the beneficiaries of government sponsored projects and it normally raises issues when the youth are left out especially in the less developed countries where the young people do not own property. Pillay (1990) argues that for an economic stimulus project to be successful, all the ages need to be represented to avoid offering incentives to a handful of the population who mainly comprise the aged. Succession in the project may fail if the youth do not take part. On the other hand, the government and non-governmental stimulus projects require that the beneficiary contributes in kind or financially. The coastal communities who have access to water are generally poor in the less developed countries. Issues arise when non-coastal people and foreigners who own large companies invest in mariculture since they have the capacity to make the desired contribution by the sponsor of the project, be it the government or non-governmental organizations. Leases on the long term basis may also be a major issue especially since governments may seem ignorant in regard to promoting the livelihoods of the poor coastal communities. References Baird, D.J., Beveridge, M.C.M., Kelly, L.A., Muir, J.F. Aquaculture and Water Resource Management. Blackwell Science, 1996. FAO. Aquaculture development and management: status, issues, and prospects. COFI:AQ/1/2002/2. FAO, Rome, Italy, 2002. Hall, S.J.. The Effects of Fishing on Marine Ecosystems and Communities. Blackwell Science, 1999. Hancock, D.A, Smith, D.C., Grant, A & Beumer J.P. Developing and Sustaining World Fisheries Resources: the State of Science and Management. 2nd World Fisheries Congress. CSIRO, Collingwood, Australia, 1997. Ling, B. “Price co-integration in spatial markets: an application to milkfish markets in Taiwan”. Aquaculture Economics and Management, Vol. 7(2): 2003, pp 85–94. Pillay, T.V.R.. Aquaculture - Principles and Practices. Blackwell, 1990. Stanley, D. L. “The Economic Impact of Mariculture on a Small Regional Economy”. World Development, Vol. 31(1): 2003, pp 191-210 Shang, Y.C. Aquaculture Economic Analysis: An Introduction. World Aquaculture Society, Baton Rouge, 2003. Stickney, R. R., “Tropical Mariculture”. North American Journal of Aquaculture, Vol. 2(2):1999, pp 85-86 Read More