Socioeconomics of responsible aquaculture in Asia

Aquaculture provided 20% of global fisheries production and 29% of food fish in 1996. Much of the production was from low income food-deficit countries (LIFDCs). Between 1990 and 1996, the average expansion rate of aquaculture in LIFDCs was nearly six times than in non-LIFDCs. The expansion in production is not free of problems, however. Environmental, biological diversity, socioeconomic, and consumer safety issues have been linked to intensive aquaculture. These problems are seen in the context of a need for good governance of aquaculture development. The socioeconomics of responsible aquaculture and approaches of good governance of aquaculture is examined in this paper.