Aquaculture and the environment: the supply of and demand for environmental goods and services by Asian aquaculture and the implications for sustainability

Abstract

billion) (FAO 1996). Nevertheless, the sustainability The present paper explores the relationships between of some aquaculture industries are increasingly aquaculture and the environment in Asia, focusing being questioned: irrespective of which indicators on the demands for environmental goods and are used ‐ resource use efficiency, financial viability, services among different sectors. Aquaculture in the operational period, social interactions ‐ sustainregion accounts for 88% of global production by ability issues are readily apparent throughout the weight and 80% by value. Nevertheless, region. Whilst the concepts of sustainability are environmental problems are increasingly apparent poorly defined for aquaculture, the consensus is and the higher the demands for environmental that sustainability incorporates social, technical, goods and services, the more negative the impacts. financial and ecological concerns and that Against a background of rapid social, economic interactions between aquaculture and its ecological and political change, the paper considers how the environment ‐ the focus of this paper ‐ are becoming sustainability of the industry is best assured. An increasingly important and the extent of the integrated view of resource use, in which problems are such that they can no longer be aquaculture is but one activity, is necessary for ignored. As an example, the Network of Aquaculture sustainable development. The roles of planning, Centres in Asia (NACA) estimates that education, research and environmental environmental problems (including disease losses) management schemes are discussed. cost the sector in Asia at least US$ 3 billion per annum in lost revenues (ADB/NACA 1996). The present paper explores the relationships