major, if transitory, reduction in the consumption of fish. One possible way to comply
with public attitudes and to impose legislation is through resolution of externalities
through monetary valuation of the interactions between aquaculture and the environment and vice versa (Chapter 8). Externalities can be used for policy formulation,
e.g., through introduction of environmental taxes and make the producer aware of
the environmental costs.
Changes in the market may significantly affect the development of the aquaculture
industry, as production only takes place if there are economic benefits to the producer.
Chapter 9 analyses the past development in the economics of the industry and from
this analysis predicts future trends. It is predicted that production will move towards a
few high-volume species supplemented with a large number of small-volume species
for local markets. High-volume species have the advantage of predictability and can be
sold in the large and global supermarket chains, where weekly sales can be promoted
founded on the stability of delivery. High-volume productions are characterized by relatively low production costs. On the other hand, the small-volume species can be sold at
a higher price at local markets depending on season and demand.
Aquaculture has increased tremendously in the last decades and is predicted to
continue this increase. The aim of this book is to provide a scientific forecast of the
development with a focus on the environmental, technological, social and economic
constraints that need to be resolved to ensure sustainable development of the industry
and allow the industry to be able to feed healthy seafood products to the future
generations.
References
Duarte CM, Marbà N, Holmer M. (2007) Rapid domestication of marine species. Science
316:382–383
FAO (2006) FAO-STAT (UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome) http://www.fao.org/fi/
Marbà N, Duarte CM, Díaz-Almela E, Terrados J, Álvarez E, Martinez R, Santiago R, Gacia E,
Grau AM (2005) Direct evidence of imbalanced seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) shoot population dynamics in the Spanish Mediterranean. Estuaries 28:53–62
viii
Foreword
with public attitudes and to impose legislation is through resolution of externalities
through monetary valuation of the interactions between aquaculture and the environment and vice versa (Chapter 8). Externalities can be used for policy formulation,
e.g., through introduction of environmental taxes and make the producer aware of
the environmental costs.
Changes in the market may significantly affect the development of the aquaculture
industry, as production only takes place if there are economic benefits to the producer.
Chapter 9 analyses the past development in the economics of the industry and from
this analysis predicts future trends. It is predicted that production will move towards a
few high-volume species supplemented with a large number of small-volume species
for local markets. High-volume species have the advantage of predictability and can be
sold in the large and global supermarket chains, where weekly sales can be promoted
founded on the stability of delivery. High-volume productions are characterized by relatively low production costs. On the other hand, the small-volume species can be sold at
a higher price at local markets depending on season and demand.
Aquaculture has increased tremendously in the last decades and is predicted to
continue this increase. The aim of this book is to provide a scientific forecast of the
development with a focus on the environmental, technological, social and economic
constraints that need to be resolved to ensure sustainable development of the industry
and allow the industry to be able to feed healthy seafood products to the future
generations.
References
Duarte CM, Marbà N, Holmer M. (2007) Rapid domestication of marine species. Science
316:382–383
FAO (2006) FAO-STAT (UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome) http://www.fao.org/fi/
Marbà N, Duarte CM, Díaz-Almela E, Terrados J, Álvarez E, Martinez R, Santiago R, Gacia E,
Grau AM (2005) Direct evidence of imbalanced seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) shoot population dynamics in the Spanish Mediterranean. Estuaries 28:53–62
viii
Foreword