5 Non-Native Species in Aquaculture
171
5.4 Future Directions
As the landings from capture fisheries stagnate (SOFIA 2004; Hilborn 2007), aquaculture is critical to the provision of global resources. The industry provides full
time employment for over 3.3 million people in China alone (De Silva 2000) and
many millions more could be employed either directly or indirectly in aquaculture
worldwide – provided there is wise environmental management. A sustainable
approach to coastal aquaculture is especially key given that 65% of humanity, 3.6
billion people, live within 150 km of the coast and are dependent on ecosystem
based services (Cohen 1995; Sachs and Reid 2006) and that a number of major
aquaculture regions support biodiversity hotspots. Much of the future aquatic production will be dependant on good water quality and how developments evolve that
might otherwise conflict with the space required for cultivation. The present ease
of transportation will allow for the movement of aquaculture species over large
distances rapidly enabling a wide range of species to become transferred.
Legislation and risk management in the movement of species is becoming recognised as an important area in order to prevent undesired impacts, as a result of an
intended introduction.
5.4.1 Legislation for the Introduction of Non-Native Species
for Aquaculture Purposes and Management Strategies
The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Code of Practice
on Introductions and Transfers of Marine Organisms (ICES 2005a) and the
European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission (EIFAC) Code of Practice for
Consideration of Introductions and Transfers of Marine and Freshwater Organisms
(Turner 1988), provided guidelines for the intentional introduction of non-native
species for aquaculture purposes. Furthermore, it has been recommended that the
new IUCN code of practice should be incorporated into national development strategies (Hewitt et al. 2006). These codes aim to minimise negative impacts of nonnatives used in aquaculture on the recipient environments. Australia and New
Zealand are well advanced in the development of their national strategies; however,
it is recognised that these procedures take time to implement and there are circumstances where there is an urgent requirement to provide food for the vast population, as in China or where there has been serious environmental degradation, as in
the case of deforestation in the Indo-Pacific (Coates 1995).
5.4.1.1 Australia and New Zealand
Australia has experienced a number of high profile invasions from a variety of
sectors resulting in serious environmental and economic impacts (Hewitt et al. in
171
5.4 Future Directions
As the landings from capture fisheries stagnate (SOFIA 2004; Hilborn 2007), aquaculture is critical to the provision of global resources. The industry provides full
time employment for over 3.3 million people in China alone (De Silva 2000) and
many millions more could be employed either directly or indirectly in aquaculture
worldwide – provided there is wise environmental management. A sustainable
approach to coastal aquaculture is especially key given that 65% of humanity, 3.6
billion people, live within 150 km of the coast and are dependent on ecosystem
based services (Cohen 1995; Sachs and Reid 2006) and that a number of major
aquaculture regions support biodiversity hotspots. Much of the future aquatic production will be dependant on good water quality and how developments evolve that
might otherwise conflict with the space required for cultivation. The present ease
of transportation will allow for the movement of aquaculture species over large
distances rapidly enabling a wide range of species to become transferred.
Legislation and risk management in the movement of species is becoming recognised as an important area in order to prevent undesired impacts, as a result of an
intended introduction.
5.4.1 Legislation for the Introduction of Non-Native Species
for Aquaculture Purposes and Management Strategies
The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Code of Practice
on Introductions and Transfers of Marine Organisms (ICES 2005a) and the
European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission (EIFAC) Code of Practice for
Consideration of Introductions and Transfers of Marine and Freshwater Organisms
(Turner 1988), provided guidelines for the intentional introduction of non-native
species for aquaculture purposes. Furthermore, it has been recommended that the
new IUCN code of practice should be incorporated into national development strategies (Hewitt et al. 2006). These codes aim to minimise negative impacts of nonnatives used in aquaculture on the recipient environments. Australia and New
Zealand are well advanced in the development of their national strategies; however,
it is recognised that these procedures take time to implement and there are circumstances where there is an urgent requirement to provide food for the vast population, as in China or where there has been serious environmental degradation, as in
the case of deforestation in the Indo-Pacific (Coates 1995).
5.4.1.1 Australia and New Zealand
Australia has experienced a number of high profile invasions from a variety of
sectors resulting in serious environmental and economic impacts (Hewitt et al. in