Ecological Considerations of Cage Aquaculture in Taiwan

Abstract

The success of aquaculture in Taiwan over the years has resulted in tremendous capital investment and the development of advanced techniques and technologies. However, after the collapse of the shrimp farming industry in the late 1980s, the government has devoted much effort to the development of modern offshore fish farming as a top priority for its national aquaculture plan. The recent and continuing expansion of cobia (Rachycentron canadum) cage farming in inshore areas, and the intention to develop offshore potential, has led to questions on the degree of the ecological impact that can be anticipated in the future. In this paper we first briefly review the history of aquaculture development in Taiwan particularly focusing on marine cage culture. We then outline the challenges facing Taiwanese cage aquaculture including potential environmental impacts. To solve these problems, some technical solutions for sustainable cage aquaculture are proposed including the employment of benthic fauna as environmental indicators, developing new types of feed processing technology to reduce the pollution load, adopting good feeding and management practice to reduce feed loss, monitoring the feeding behavior by video camera. It remains of paramount importance to protect marine resources for the overall fisheries and aquaculture development. The Taiwan Offshore Aquaculture Association (TOAA) will therefore enthusiastically support different projects assisting the government in managing the natural resources and in preserving the environment.