Page 21 - FAO Aquaculture News, May 2021 - No. 63

using antimicrobials in the control of diseases, and the 39.5 percent of the global total. The export value increased
Special Section | Aquaculture Reviews
weak capacity of farmers to effectively manage animal by an average annual rate of 6.6 percent over the period
health problems. 2008–2018. Along with the overall growth trend of
international trade of aquatic products, there has been a
Compared with other regions, aquaculture in the Asia- significant increase in the intraregional trade of aquatic
Pacific region is extremely diversified in terms of cultured products. The growth in international trade of aquatic
commodities, farming systems and practices, and levels products has been an important driver for aquaculture
of intensity. Such diversity enables the sector to supply development in the region. The increasingly high food
a rich diversity of products that can meet local, national safety and social standards for imported aquatic products
and global market demands, provides different types of have promoted good aquaculture practices. Simultaneously,
livelihoods and job opportunities in rural and urban areas, these practices have forced small farmers to invest more
and makes effective use of all kinds of natural resources. to meet the standards. While their investment does not
Further diversification of farming systems and practices receive much of a return in terms of an anticipated market
is encouraged to effectively address major challenges, premium, it does maintain access to markets.
such as climate change impact and changing social and
economic contexts. On the other hand, extreme diversity of While the aquaculture sector keeps growing in the region,
cultured species has been a major constraint in improving threats such as climate change impacts, major disease
aquaculture through focused research and technology outbreaks, market volatility and other disasters such as the
development. COVID-19 pandemic further increase the vulnerability
of the smallholders, who often bear the most risk and
Another major source of progress of the aquaculture share the least benefit among all the stakeholders in the
sector in the Asia-Pacific region is the improvement of supply and value chain. There is urgent need to build
governance of aquaculture. Many countries have been resilience of small farmers through technology innovation,
making efforts to strengthen their national legislation to transformative changes in farming system/practices, and
safeguard the development of the sector, including revision more equitable supply and value chains supported with
of the overarching fisheries law that covers aquaculture digital aquaculture and market diversification.
sectoral matters and various specific regulations targeting
the aquaculture sector, ranging from biosecurity Sustainable growth of aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific
control, aquaculture food safety, resource planning and region is highly desirable for greater contribution to the
management, environmental standards, and registration/ attainment of several SDGs related to poverty alleviation,
licencing to social standards. It is recognized that the nutrition and social well-being, regionally and globally. Such
level of aquaculture governance is very uneven across the growth will support better production, better nutrition,
region. The effectiveness of enforcement of existing laws, better environment and better life. The following strategies
regulations and standards on the ground is inadequate to are recommended to support the member countries in
ensure the sustainability of the sector. pursuing this goal:
– Strengthen collaboration between international
The Asia-Pacific region has remained a major supplier and regional organizations, such as the Network of
of internationally traded aquatic products. In 2018, Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific, through the
countries in the region exported 15.2 million tonnes of FAO Hand-in-Hand initiative and South-South and
aquatic products, which accounted for 36.5 percent of Triangular Cooperation.
total global export of aquatic products. The export volume – Strengthen regional cooperation in promoting
of aquatic products increased by an annual average rate aquaculture development in underdeveloped areas,
of 3 percent between 2008 and 2018. The total value of such as the Small Island Developing States regional
exported aquatic products from the countries in the region network.
reached USD 65.8 billion in 2018, which accounted for – Enhance public-private partnerships and small and
medium-sized enterprises in promoting sustainable
growth of aquaculture in the region.
– Strengthen advocacy on the improvement and
contribution of the aquaculture sector in the
©FAO/P. Hoang Nam (photo taken before COVID-19 pandemic) REFERENCES
Asia-Pacific region.

A video recording of the webinar can be found here:
www.aquaculture2020.org/reviews

Aquaculture harvest in Viet Nam.

20 FAO AQUACULTURE NEWS – Nº. 63 ■ MAY 2021