Commercial aquaculture in Southeast Asia: Some policy lessons

Globally aquaculture has been increasing rapidly and already accounts for nearly half of all food fish consumed. For developing countries, which produce 90% of the world's output, aquaculture is a source of protein, employment, income and of foreign exchange. Southeast Asia is an area which has experienced this "blue revolution". Total aquaculture output in the region increased from less than two million tonnes in 1990 to more than eight million tonnes in 2006. Moreover, the region's pace of expansion has accelerated. Annual average growth rates in output from 2000 to 2006 were more than double those from 1990 to 2000. Already more than a quarter of food fish in Southeast Asia comes from aquaculture. Aquaculture matters because fish products are important in the diet of much of Southeast Asia. The population generally has a high per capita consumption of fish, and fish are a major source of animal protein in a region where levels of animal protein are below the world average. Output from the capture fisheries has increased but growth rates are slowing. To maintain present levels of per capita consumption of fish in the region, whose average population is projected to grow by 16% by 2015, requires continued expansion of aquaculture. The paper focuses on commercial or profit-oriented aquaculture. It produces protein, but also rural employment and income. It also has the potential to generate taxes for governments and foreign exchange, and by improving economic efficiencies and competitiveness hold down the cost of aquatic products. Contributing to food security, rural livelihoods and economic growth, aquaculture is an important and growing sector in the region and merits study. It is hoped that lessons learnt can be useful to other parts of the world.