298
Y. Olsen et al.
and these groups represent the majority of the increased production after 1990. The
global increase in production of diadromous fish, mainly comprised by Atlantic
salmon, and marine fish species (many different species) is quantitatively less, but
these groups have exhibited a steady and significant rate of increase since 1990,
especially Atlantic salmon. The cultivation technology of marine fish is throughout
more complicated than that for most other groups of organisms (Moksness et al.
2004). It is in particular the technology for producing fish juveniles that has inhibited
developments of marine finfish culture, and this is most likely why cultivation of
marine fish has grown the slowest on a global scale.
European marine aquaculture is structurally different from the general global
picture. There is no significant marine plant production in Europe whereas there
is a historically lasting production of shellfish like oysters and blue mussels. On
the other hand, the European production of salmonids constitutes almost half of
the world production. The most important species is Atlantic salmon, mainly
produced in Norway and the UK. Europe is also responsible for more than 15%
of the global marine fish production, and the most important species are sea bass
and sea bream, which are mainly produced in the Mediterranean countries. Fish
is among the most highly valued products of seafood, and the high finfish production in Europe is quite successful and also competitive. Salmon is exported to
Southern Europe and also worldwide. The pattern is different for the Mediterranean
species, which are mostly consumed in the region where they are produced
(Asche et al. 2007, Chapter 9, this book), except for red tuna fattened in
Mediterranean farms, which is entirely exported to Japan. The high share of
highly valued finfish in European aquaculture, organisms that are relatively
knowledge- and technology-intensive as compared to many other cultured groups,
suggests a relatively high technological level of the European aquaculture industry.
Other countries, like Chile and Canada, are rapidly emerging as significant competitors to Europe in salmonid production.
Although global statistics reveal a very rapid growth in global mariculture
from 1990, a closer view shows that China is responsible for the majority of the
global growth in mariculture production (FIGIS, FAO statistics), with total aquaculture increasing by 34% for the period 1990–2000 (Brugere and Ridler 2004).
The increasing production in China started at the same time as captures levelled
off. There is, therefore, most likely no other cryptic market related mechanism
behind the coincidence in time of reduced fisheries and increased culture. China
is not the only country showing a growing mariculture trend, this is a relatively
consistent trend also in other SE Asian countries like Vietnam and Thailand, and
in other countries with a major commitment to aquaculture, like for example
Norway and Chile. The development in China is, however, important for the rest
of the world, because China is both a large producer and committed to mariculture. The average consumption of seafood in China has increased from 10 to
above 25 kg per capita from 1990 to 2002 (Vannuccini 2004), exceeding global
average values, but the country has an overall objective to increase the export of
high-priced seafood products.
Y. Olsen et al.
and these groups represent the majority of the increased production after 1990. The
global increase in production of diadromous fish, mainly comprised by Atlantic
salmon, and marine fish species (many different species) is quantitatively less, but
these groups have exhibited a steady and significant rate of increase since 1990,
especially Atlantic salmon. The cultivation technology of marine fish is throughout
more complicated than that for most other groups of organisms (Moksness et al.
2004). It is in particular the technology for producing fish juveniles that has inhibited
developments of marine finfish culture, and this is most likely why cultivation of
marine fish has grown the slowest on a global scale.
European marine aquaculture is structurally different from the general global
picture. There is no significant marine plant production in Europe whereas there
is a historically lasting production of shellfish like oysters and blue mussels. On
the other hand, the European production of salmonids constitutes almost half of
the world production. The most important species is Atlantic salmon, mainly
produced in Norway and the UK. Europe is also responsible for more than 15%
of the global marine fish production, and the most important species are sea bass
and sea bream, which are mainly produced in the Mediterranean countries. Fish
is among the most highly valued products of seafood, and the high finfish production in Europe is quite successful and also competitive. Salmon is exported to
Southern Europe and also worldwide. The pattern is different for the Mediterranean
species, which are mostly consumed in the region where they are produced
(Asche et al. 2007, Chapter 9, this book), except for red tuna fattened in
Mediterranean farms, which is entirely exported to Japan. The high share of
highly valued finfish in European aquaculture, organisms that are relatively
knowledge- and technology-intensive as compared to many other cultured groups,
suggests a relatively high technological level of the European aquaculture industry.
Other countries, like Chile and Canada, are rapidly emerging as significant competitors to Europe in salmonid production.
Although global statistics reveal a very rapid growth in global mariculture
from 1990, a closer view shows that China is responsible for the majority of the
global growth in mariculture production (FIGIS, FAO statistics), with total aquaculture increasing by 34% for the period 1990–2000 (Brugere and Ridler 2004).
The increasing production in China started at the same time as captures levelled
off. There is, therefore, most likely no other cryptic market related mechanism
behind the coincidence in time of reduced fisheries and increased culture. China
is not the only country showing a growing mariculture trend, this is a relatively
consistent trend also in other SE Asian countries like Vietnam and Thailand, and
in other countries with a major commitment to aquaculture, like for example
Norway and Chile. The development in China is, however, important for the rest
of the world, because China is both a large producer and committed to mariculture. The average consumption of seafood in China has increased from 10 to
above 25 kg per capita from 1990 to 2002 (Vannuccini 2004), exceeding global
average values, but the country has an overall objective to increase the export of
high-priced seafood products.