Aquaculture and the environment: the supply of and demand for environmental goods and services by Asian aquaculture and the implications for sustainability

The present paper explores the relationships between aquaculture and the environment in Asia, focusing on the demands for environmental goods and services among different sectors. Aquaculture in the region accounts for 88% of global production by weight and 80% by value. Nevertheless, environmental problems are increasingly apparent and the higher the demands for environmental goods and services, the more negative the impacts. Against a background of rapid social, economic and political change, the paper considers how the sustainability of the industry is best assured. An integrated view of resource use, in which aquaculture is but one activity, is necessary for sustainable development. The roles of planning, education, research and environmental management schemes are discussed.