156
E.J. Cook et al.
5.1 Intentional Introduction of Non-Native Species
for Aquaculture
Global aquaculture production has reached 59.4 million tonnes per year, worth
US$70.3 billion accounting for almost 50% of world seafood production
(FAO 2006a). It has experienced average annual growth rates of 8.8% from 1950 to
2004 (FAO 2006b) and it exceeded wild capture fisheries in Asia in 2002 (FAO
2006a) (Fig. 5.1). In many regions of the world, non-native species have been intentionally introduced for aquaculture purposes and have contributed significantly to
the expansion of the industry (Welcomme 1992; Dextrase and Cocarelli 2000) (Fig.
5.2). These species provide considerable economic and social benefits, particularly
in developing countries and are typically selected for production based upon: (a)
the perceived poor performance of available native species relative to
non-natives, including their slow growth rates, lower yield, reduced resistance
to disease, tolerance to overcrowding and hardiness to environmental fluctuations;
(b) proven production techniques that are readily transferred to new locations; and
(c) new commercial opportunities, specifically in developing regions, utilising preestablished global markets (FAO 2006b).
The majority of intentional introductions have occurred in the last century for
stocking and aquaculture purposes (Holick 1984; Welcomme 1991; Minchin and
Rosenthal 2002; Goren and Galil 2005) and, with the current pace of technological
development, it is highly likely that further non-native species and their hybrids will
be trialled in countries outside their native range (Minchin and Rosenthal 2002).
At present, four non-native species are the focus of intensive aquaculture efforts on
0
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Production quantity (million tonnes)
Production
Value
Production Value (billion US$)
Year
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
Fig. 5.1 World aquaculture production (including plants) (million tonnes) and value (billion
US$) from 1950 to 2004 (FAO 2006a)
E.J. Cook et al.
5.1 Intentional Introduction of Non-Native Species
for Aquaculture
Global aquaculture production has reached 59.4 million tonnes per year, worth
US$70.3 billion accounting for almost 50% of world seafood production
(FAO 2006a). It has experienced average annual growth rates of 8.8% from 1950 to
2004 (FAO 2006b) and it exceeded wild capture fisheries in Asia in 2002 (FAO
2006a) (Fig. 5.1). In many regions of the world, non-native species have been intentionally introduced for aquaculture purposes and have contributed significantly to
the expansion of the industry (Welcomme 1992; Dextrase and Cocarelli 2000) (Fig.
5.2). These species provide considerable economic and social benefits, particularly
in developing countries and are typically selected for production based upon: (a)
the perceived poor performance of available native species relative to
non-natives, including their slow growth rates, lower yield, reduced resistance
to disease, tolerance to overcrowding and hardiness to environmental fluctuations;
(b) proven production techniques that are readily transferred to new locations; and
(c) new commercial opportunities, specifically in developing regions, utilising preestablished global markets (FAO 2006b).
The majority of intentional introductions have occurred in the last century for
stocking and aquaculture purposes (Holick 1984; Welcomme 1991; Minchin and
Rosenthal 2002; Goren and Galil 2005) and, with the current pace of technological
development, it is highly likely that further non-native species and their hybrids will
be trialled in countries outside their native range (Minchin and Rosenthal 2002).
At present, four non-native species are the focus of intensive aquaculture efforts on
0
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Production quantity (million tonnes)
Production
Value
Production Value (billion US$)
Year
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
Fig. 5.1 World aquaculture production (including plants) (million tonnes) and value (billion
US$) from 1950 to 2004 (FAO 2006a)