Chapter 9
Future Trends in Aquaculture: Productivity
Growth and Increased Production
Frank Asche,
1,
* Kristin H. Roll
2 , and Sigbjørn Tveterås
2
Abstract The introduction of semi-intensive and intensive farming practice,
where producers actively influence the growing condition of the fish, has been the
main engine for growth in aquaculture production. The control of the biological
production process has enabled a number of productivity enhancing innovations.
These advances have reduced the production costs, increased the product range
and reduced prices to the consumer. This has made aquaculture products competitive compared with, e.g., meat and wild-caught fish products. There is little doubt
that aquaculture production will continue to grow. However, with a competitive
marketplace not every country, region and species can succeed. Changes in relative
productivity will determine where production takes place and the need for low unit
costs will likely limit the number of high volume aquaculture species.
Keywords Aquaculture, productivity growth, future trends
9.1 Introduction
Worldwide demand for seafood will increase in the future (Delgado et al. 2003).
This is partly due to population growth and partly due to economic growth. As seafood supplies from wild sources mostly are fully exploited, this provides a substantial opportunity for aquaculture provided that aquaculture production can be
competitive. Recent development indicates that this is the case as production has
increased from about 3.5 million tonnes in 1970 to about 59 million tonnes in 2004
(FAO 2006). We will look closer at economic drivers for growth in intensive aquaculture production, and based on that make some predictions with respect to future
trends in aquaculture production.
1 Department of Industrial Economics, University of Stavanger, N-4036 Stavanger, Norway,
Tel: +47 51 83 22 86; E-mail: Frank.Asche@uis.no
2 University of Stavanger, N-4036 Stavanger, Norway
* Corrosponding author
M. Holmer et al. (eds.), Aquaculture in the Ecosystem.
271
© 2008 Springer
Future Trends in Aquaculture: Productivity
Growth and Increased Production
Frank Asche,
1,
* Kristin H. Roll
2 , and Sigbjørn Tveterås
2
Abstract The introduction of semi-intensive and intensive farming practice,
where producers actively influence the growing condition of the fish, has been the
main engine for growth in aquaculture production. The control of the biological
production process has enabled a number of productivity enhancing innovations.
These advances have reduced the production costs, increased the product range
and reduced prices to the consumer. This has made aquaculture products competitive compared with, e.g., meat and wild-caught fish products. There is little doubt
that aquaculture production will continue to grow. However, with a competitive
marketplace not every country, region and species can succeed. Changes in relative
productivity will determine where production takes place and the need for low unit
costs will likely limit the number of high volume aquaculture species.
Keywords Aquaculture, productivity growth, future trends
9.1 Introduction
Worldwide demand for seafood will increase in the future (Delgado et al. 2003).
This is partly due to population growth and partly due to economic growth. As seafood supplies from wild sources mostly are fully exploited, this provides a substantial opportunity for aquaculture provided that aquaculture production can be
competitive. Recent development indicates that this is the case as production has
increased from about 3.5 million tonnes in 1970 to about 59 million tonnes in 2004
(FAO 2006). We will look closer at economic drivers for growth in intensive aquaculture production, and based on that make some predictions with respect to future
trends in aquaculture production.
1 Department of Industrial Economics, University of Stavanger, N-4036 Stavanger, Norway,
Tel: +47 51 83 22 86; E-mail: Frank.Asche@uis.no
2 University of Stavanger, N-4036 Stavanger, Norway
* Corrosponding author
M. Holmer et al. (eds.), Aquaculture in the Ecosystem.
271
© 2008 Springer