9 Future Trends in Aquaculture Production
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and to win market shares. However, it also increases the potential competition.
Different regions have different potential advantages. Seafood species grow faster
in warmer waters, and tropical and subtropical regions therefore have a clear
advantage. However, these environments suit different species than those found
in colder climates, and it may be more difficult to gain consumer acceptance for
these unfamiliar species. Infrastructure and production structures with many
small producers can also present a challenge in gaining access to and fair treatment in global markets.
The control of the production process in aquaculture in many ways makes aquaculture similar to any other growing industry. Accordingly, the growth in other
industries should hold a number of lessons and perspectives for the future growth
of aquaculture. Although it is not perceived as equally dynamic in many parts of the
world today, agriculture is in many ways the industry that is closest to aquaculture. By
becoming increasingly intensive, agriculture has enabled humanity to increase the
global food producing capacity tremendously. Certainly it is not equally intensive
everywhere, and hunting, gathering or very extensive farming practices are still
used as food producing technologies many places in the world today. But because
such production techniques are not very efficient, the share they represent of the
world’s food supply is relatively less important.
Agriculture certainly has had its problems, and still has. It has a huge environmental
impact as landscapes are transformed, something that still continues with a substantial deforestation. Erosion or overuse of the soil can make the land unproductive,
and there are accordingly numerous examples indicating that agriculture can be
conducted in an unsustainable manner. These issues are a set of challenges that has
to be mastered for agriculture to be sustainable, and although one does not succeed
everywhere, the general experience for the two previous millennia is positive.
Aquaculture faces many of the same opportunities and challenges as agriculture
have faced, and in general solved well.
9.5 Conclusions
There is no doubt that aquaculture production will continue to grow, and substantially. As shown, e.g., by Delgado et al. (2003), demand for seafood will grow both
because of increased economic growth and an increased global population. This
provides an environment where growth is possible provided that aquaculture products
are competitive. It is clear that a lower production cost due to productivity growth
is the main engine for growth in aquaculture production. Lower production cost
makes aquaculture production of different species profitable in a large number of
countries. This is also what makes, and will continue to make aquaculture products
competitive in the markets where they are sold, independently of whether these
are export or domestic markets. This productivity growth is possible because of
the higher degree of control over the production that is present in aquaculture relative
to traditional fisheries.
289
and to win market shares. However, it also increases the potential competition.
Different regions have different potential advantages. Seafood species grow faster
in warmer waters, and tropical and subtropical regions therefore have a clear
advantage. However, these environments suit different species than those found
in colder climates, and it may be more difficult to gain consumer acceptance for
these unfamiliar species. Infrastructure and production structures with many
small producers can also present a challenge in gaining access to and fair treatment in global markets.
The control of the production process in aquaculture in many ways makes aquaculture similar to any other growing industry. Accordingly, the growth in other
industries should hold a number of lessons and perspectives for the future growth
of aquaculture. Although it is not perceived as equally dynamic in many parts of the
world today, agriculture is in many ways the industry that is closest to aquaculture. By
becoming increasingly intensive, agriculture has enabled humanity to increase the
global food producing capacity tremendously. Certainly it is not equally intensive
everywhere, and hunting, gathering or very extensive farming practices are still
used as food producing technologies many places in the world today. But because
such production techniques are not very efficient, the share they represent of the
world’s food supply is relatively less important.
Agriculture certainly has had its problems, and still has. It has a huge environmental
impact as landscapes are transformed, something that still continues with a substantial deforestation. Erosion or overuse of the soil can make the land unproductive,
and there are accordingly numerous examples indicating that agriculture can be
conducted in an unsustainable manner. These issues are a set of challenges that has
to be mastered for agriculture to be sustainable, and although one does not succeed
everywhere, the general experience for the two previous millennia is positive.
Aquaculture faces many of the same opportunities and challenges as agriculture
have faced, and in general solved well.
9.5 Conclusions
There is no doubt that aquaculture production will continue to grow, and substantially. As shown, e.g., by Delgado et al. (2003), demand for seafood will grow both
because of increased economic growth and an increased global population. This
provides an environment where growth is possible provided that aquaculture products
are competitive. It is clear that a lower production cost due to productivity growth
is the main engine for growth in aquaculture production. Lower production cost
makes aquaculture production of different species profitable in a large number of
countries. This is also what makes, and will continue to make aquaculture products
competitive in the markets where they are sold, independently of whether these
are export or domestic markets. This productivity growth is possible because of
the higher degree of control over the production that is present in aquaculture relative
to traditional fisheries.