Sustainable Marine Aquaculture

Paper on ‘Sustainable Marine Aquaculture’ under Theme No. 1 ‘Economy’ presented by Khalid A. Memon, Distinguished Panelist, 1st International Maritime Conference, A Global Perspective on Indian Ocean, hosted by Bahria University Karachi on 4 March 2007. SUSTAINABLE MARINE AQUACULTURE The seas have historically fulfilled two important functions; first as a means of communication, and secondly, as an immense reservoir of resources. As we are all aware, the oceans cover three-fourths of the surface of the earth. Since time immemorial, we have enjoyed the benefit of the oceans in a number of ways such as food, water, weather and maritime transportation. The Indian Ocean, the third largest ocean in the world together with its adjoining seas has over 15 million active fishermen, the largest number in the world. Second to Pacific, the Indian Ocean accounts for the largest number of commercial marine species and the largest share of full-time fishermen in the world. In fish diversity too, the Indian Ocean is second only to the Pacific. Fish is an important source of food as well as employment, income and foreign exchange in the region. India stands out as the largest producer of fish in the Indian Ocean region and it also accounts for the largest number of fish workers. However, with respect to marine capture fisheries, the trends in recent years have been distressing. The global capture fisheries production decreased from a figure of 92 million tonnes in the mid 1980’s to 84 million tonnes in 2002. The Indian Ocean is no exception to this increasing decline in fish production. The decline appears to have been caused by climatic conditions. Recent reviews on the state of world marine resources by FAO show that, among the major fish stocks, an estimated 44 per cent are fully exploited and are therefore producing catches that have reached or are very close to their maximum limit, with no room expected for further expansion. About 16 percent are over-fished and another 6 percent appear to be depleted, with a resulting loss in total production, not to mention the social and economic losses derived from the uncontrolled and excessive fishing pressure. The Indian Ocean countries face considerable difficulties in the development and management of their marine fishery resources for a host of reasons. Modernization and expansion of fisheries, growing conflicts, external threats, distant water issues, and coastal environmental degradation are some of the issues that need immediate attention. At various international meetings, concern has been expressed about the overexploitation of important stocks, damage to ecosystems, economic losses, and issues affecting fish trade. All these threaten the sustainability of fisheries. The Indian Ocean region is characterized by delicate but highly productive ecosystems, with complex species and environmental inter-relationships. However, in almost all countries of the Indian Ocean region, fishery resources in the nearshore waters are poorly managed and overexploited. While these resources are the mainstay and the livelihood of fishing families, they are often subject to encroachment by domestic and foreign large-scale fishing vessels, often using nonselective, destructive gear such as bottom trawls. The existing national fisheries management institutions should be fortified in order to carry out these important tasks more effectively. Efforts should also be made to harmonize rules, procedures and regulations in capture fisheries enforcement, environmental protection, as well as in quality assurance of fish and fishery products for domestic consumption and export.

Levels of capture fisheries in the wild had remained roughly stable since the mid1980s, averaging around 92 million tonnes annually. After increasing from about 79 million tonnes in 1998, to 87 million tonnes in 2000, the world marine capture fisheries production decreased to about 84 million tonnes in 2001 and remained at that level in 2002. FAO estimates that there is little chance of any significant increase in catches beyond these levels. Experts believe that the catches have levelled off, probably for good. This levelling off, coupled with a growing world population and increasing per capita demand for fish is worrying. Fish is a highly perishable food, requiring proper handling and processing if it is to be utilized in a cost effective and efficient way for the benefit of those that rely on it for nutrition or income. FAO estimates that up to 20 MT of fish is wasted by being discarded at sea immediately after catch. Worldwide, demand for fish is growing whereas many natural fisheries are already heavily or overexploited. Extra demands for fish in the future could, in part, be met by: reducing post-harvest losses; an increase in the use of presently under-utilized species; and increased production from aquaculture. Talking about under-utilized species, let us take the culture of Hawaiian Yellowtail, known locally as kahala. It is a lowly native fish that in the wild is prone to a reef toxin called ciguatera. Commercial fishermen, who throw kahala back in the ocean if they catch it, scoff at the suggestion of cultivating the species for profit. Why would anyone want to waste time on a fish that could poison the person who eats it? But a groundbreaking enterprise here on the Big Island has transformed kahala from trash to the "it" fish on menus at celebrated restaurants and, in the process, challenged the belief that marine aquaculture is detrimental to the environment. Thanks to Kona Blue Water Farms and Bainbridge Island-based Net Systems, the future of virtually "guilt-free" fish farming has arrived -- and in sashimi-grade style. Nearly half the fish presently consumed as food worldwide are raised on fish farms rather than caught in the wild. While in 1980 just 9 percent of the fish consumed by human beings came from aquaculture, today the share has risen to 43%. That's 45.5 million tonnes of farmed fish, worth US$63 billion, eaten each year. Globally, consumer demand for fish continues to climb, especially in affluent, developed nations which in 2004 imported 33 million tonnes of fish worth over US$61 billion -- 81% of all fish imports that year, in value terms. It is estimated that an additional 40 million tonnes of aquatic food will be required by the year 2030 -- just to maintain current levels of consumption. The only option for meeting future demand for fish is through farming. Aquaculture has been experiencing a boom since the mid-1980s, sustaining a growth rate of around 8% per year. Today it continues to expand in almost all world regions. But aquaculture faces many challenges. There is need to start planning now for handling these challenges, because aquaculture is crucial to the fight against global hunger. It offers a source of food that is rich in protein, essential fatty acids and vitamins and minerals. And it offers a way to boost development by providing jobs, improving people's incomes, and increasing returns on natural resource use. We must ensure that the sector continues to expand, sustainably, to provide more people with food and

income, especially in the Indian Ocean area, where hunger and poverty prevail." The past 20 years have seen Asian aquaculture evolve from a traditional practice to a science-based activity and grow into a significant food production sector, contributing more to national economies and providing better livelihoods for rural and farming families. Aquaculture used to be regarded as an infant in comparison with crop and livestock husbandry and capture fisheries. It has since matured into a better organized economic sector. Asia dominates the world in aquaculture production and the sector is extremely diversified in species, technologies and farming systems employed. The region provides 91 percent of global aquaculture production. In 1997, the combined aquaculture production was 32.63 million MT valued at US$41.95 billion, an increase of 144 percent and 117 percent in weight and value, respectively compared to 1988. Aquaculture production in the region has been growing at a rate nearly five times faster than landings from capture fisheries, and its share of total fisheries landings in the region increased from 32 percent to 50 percent between 1988 and 1997. Concerns about the environmental sustainability of certain aquaculture activities relate, inter alia, to the degradation or removal of ecologically valuable habitats, the waste production levels that exceed the assimilation capacity of near shore waters and freshwater aquifers, the capture of wild postlarvae for stocking and high by-catch mortalities, and the transmission of pathogens and genes between cultured and wild stocks. An additional argument is that “infant” industries face cost disadvantages because scale economies do not yet apply and the gains from learning-by-doing are not yet available. As a consequence, a late starter may not become internationally competitive, or may become so only after a great length of time, without government assistance. Aquaculture - Social Benefits The catch of wild fish has levelled off at just less than 85 million metric tons; consequently the job market for wild fish harvesting is stagnant or declining. Aquaculture has the potential to provide those fishermen put out of work as well as new recruits with a job in aquaculture. The creation of jobs is important to the health of our economy and society and the maintenance of our standard of living. Fish represents a valuable source of micronutrients, minerals, essential fatty acids and proteins in the diet. As the world population expands and the demand increases due to change in dietary preferences, a larger, more reliable and inexpensive supply of seafood and fish products are needed. The growth in the aquaculture industry has lead to decreased price per Kg for numerous popular fish, making it easier and cheaper for many to obtain the health benefits of a diet with a sufficient fish component. Though heatedly debated, it is possible that there are some environmental benefits from aquaculture. Many of the world's fisheries are at unhealthy or unsustainable levels. A growing aquaculture sector has the potential to decrease the pressure on wild fish stocks. However, fisheries economics and policies have implications for the ability of aquaculture to replace or provide an alternative to wild catches. There have been some suggestions that fish farming may have less harmful impact on the ecosystem than some particularly adverse fishing techniques, such as ocean trawling that damages the ocean substrate and has high rates of by catch, the

unintended catch and death of non-targeted species. Contribution to national economies Fisheries and aquaculture production is a clear contributor to national economies across the Indian Ocean region. Apart from fisheries, Aquaculture also makes an important contribution to GDP. Bangladesh with a production value of US$1.36 billion, contributes nearly 2.7% to GDP. Thailand and Indonesia contribute 2.07 and 1.66% to GDP respectively. There are clear indications that fisheries and aquaculture play a substantial role in providing vital income generation opportunities to the people. In addition to those people involved directly in the primary production sector, there are also a number of people who are engaged in the supporting industries of fisheries and aquaculture such as boat building, ice making, feed manufacturing, processing, marketing and distribution of fisheries and aquaculture products. Fisheries products are highly traded commodities in the Indian Ocean region bringing valuable foreign exchange earnings to exporting States. Over the past 20 years, many developing countries have become net exporters of fish, rather than net importers, a trend very evident in the Southeast Asia region. Thailand is a major exporting State in the region, exporting 1.2 million tonnes of fisheries products with the foreign exchange earning of US$ 3.7 billion in 2002. Iran’s shrimp export revenues were 20 million Euros in 2005 and are estimated at 25-26 million Euros this year. In the Indian Ocean region, Pakistan is way behind other countries in the field of aquaculture. Commercial Marine aquaculture simply does not exist, even though we have a coastline that stretches to about 1,000 km. Pakistan’s Exclusive Economic Zone is spread over 240,000 Sq. Km, is still waiting for the availability of resources for exploitation of its potential. The Baluchistan coast is around 750 km. Major areas of the coastline are desolate and scantily populated. Due to nonavailability of resources, a majority of the people have migrated to the North or to Karachi. Interest in marine finfish and shrimp farming is gaining momentum in the province of Sindh. A few hatcheries are already experimenting with local shrimp species. Various aquaculture activities along the Baluchistan and Sindh coast are being planned. These would not only provide alternate livelihood to the local communities but also earn huge foreign exchange for Pakistan in the near future. But we must learn from the mistakes of other countries where several problems have occurred due to bad management, irresponsible and unregulated aquaculture practices. The concerns and needs to be addressed will include increasing the emphasis on aquaculture and aquafarmers in national development plans to enhance institutional and financial support to the sector; providing an enabling environment with appropriate policy, legal and institutional framework to facilitate access to key development resources such as money and knowledge; stimulating investments in aquaculture development; In sum, the prospects for aquaculture development are bright and envisaged expectations are achievable. Their achievement can be ensured by creating the appropriate environments for improved support to producers, enhanced participation, strengthened networking, better information and regional and global cooperation. In order to sufficiently develop aquaculture, governmental and fisheries agencies

should offer incentives to farmers and potential investors. These include lease of land at reasonable rates under a Land Grant Policy, Soft Loans, income and profit tax rebates and assistance with collective infrastructure such as roads, electricity, water channels, bunds and drainage. These agencies need to set up a pilot finfish and shrimp project and training centre to encourage farmers and investors. The Government needs to give incentives to the private sector for setting up an aquatic feed mill and alternate additional Finfish and Shrimp Hatcheries. To contribute to reduction in the cost of production by reducing taxes on aquatic feeds, and to consider the increasing need to ensure that aquaculture is ecofriendly and that farming native and popular species as well as the possible introduction of new exotic species can be achieved without endangering the ecological balance. Sustainable aquaculture development calls for strategies to improve the quality of water used by the fish farmers, and farm management technologies, as well as environmentally friendly coastal sites. If these are ensured, aquaculture projects can be efficiently, effectively and profitably implemented.