Sustainable aquaculture : seizing opportunities to meet global demand

In a world facing future food shortages, the global importance of aquaculture continues to rise. According to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) statistics, 1995 worldwide production from aquaculture represented about 21.3 million tons (19 percent) of the total annual fish production from all sources. Expansion of aquaculture is inevitable. Its development is driven by an increased demand for products and a need to shift from a high dependency on overexploited inland and marine capture fisheries that have become increasingly threatened. Expansion of aquaculture follows the historical changes from a high dependency on land-based hunting and gathering to agriculture and animal husbandry. Accordingly, greater reliance on aquaculture will further reduce dependency on aquatic natural resources and enhance the capacity to foster conservation of natural aquatic habitats and biodiversity.