Major drivers of coastal aquaculture expansion in Southeast Asia

Abstract

Coastal aquaculture is socially, culturally and economically important in Southeast Asia, but its expansion in the last fifty years has had negative environmental and social consequences. Through analyses of detailed accounts of the expansion of coastal aquaculture, we aimed to increase knowledge of the factors underlying this expansion to guide future policies for sustainable management of the coastal zone. Using a systematic review of ninety studies, we found that increased aquaculture development and economic opportunities were the most frequently identified proximate drivers of coastal aquaculture expansion, while factors associated with location (e.g. availability of mangrove land), institutional policies and economy (e.g. capital investment and market demand) had lesser influence. However, complex combinations of the underlying factors were also important. For example, the influence of policies that stimulated aquaculture development was often associated with combinations of locational, institutional, economic, technological and social factors. Strategies aimed at enhancing expansion of sustainable coastal aquaculture and mangrove conservation should focus on government policy interventions, including those that support mangrove silvo-aquaculture.