Fish as feed inputs for aquaculture: practices, sustainability and implications

6 Fish as feed inputs for aquaculture – Practices, sustainability and implications

Growth in the production

of this species group is steady if

unspectacular. For instance, the

production of the primary non-

filter-feeding carps has increased

25 percent since 2000 (Figure 2),

which is higher than 5–10 percent

global average for finfish over the

same period.

The factors driving growth of

this species group reflect local

demand in the areas of production

rather than a global commodity

status, as is the case for salmonids

and other intensively farmed

marine species. This demand

reflects their important role both in local economies and in supporting livelihoods

through income generation, especially for small-scale farming operations.

2.1.3 Omnivorous/scavenging crustaceans

This group includes marine shrimps, freshwater prawns and other crustaceans.

Similar to the carnivorous group, they produce high-value crops that are sold on the

international markets with valuable economic returns to farmers, processors and other

downstream interests. Although they have an important function in providing coastal

and rural employment, the relatively high intensity of the culture systems used and

the producers ́ position as an initial point in a long distribution chain results in narrow

margins and an increasing need for cost efficiency. This has resulted in both vertical

integration through the sector and the increasing development of cluster farming to

reduce the cost of inputs and to share marketing and other costs. However, given that

most shrimp and prawns are either sold in the larger cities or exported, their direct

contribution to rural food security is limited.

The global farmed crustacean production is currently just under 4 million tonnes

(FAO, 2006a). Over a third of

this amount consists of Pacific

white shrimp (Litopenaeus

vannamei, also known as the

whiteleg shrimp), whose culture

has expanded extremely rapidly,

mainly due to production in

China, which has increased from

100 000 tonnes in 2000 to over

800 000 tonnes in 2005. Thailand

and Indonesia have also recorded

impressive increases in the

production of this species, which

is usually reared in brackishwater

systems. The Pacific white

shrimp has also seen a gradual

increase in production in Brazil

and in its native eastern Pacific

region of central and southern

America, where production is

growing, particularly in Mexico.

FIGURE 2

Production of the primary non-filter-feeding carps and

all tilapias, 2000–2005

Source: FAO (2006a)

0

500 000

1 000 000

1 500 000

2 000 000

2 500 000

3 000 000

3 500 000

4 000 000

4 500 000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Production (tonnes)

Year

Grass carp Common carp Tilapia Crucian carp

FIGURE 3

Global production of key crustacean species, 2000–2005

Source: FAO (2006a)

0

200 000

400 000

600 000

800 000

1 000 000

1 200 000

1 400 000

1 600 000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Production (tonnes)

Year

Pacific white shrimp Giant tiger prawn

Chinese river crab Oriental river prawn

Giant river prawn Giant tiger prawn

Indo -Pacific swamp crab Red swamp crawfish

Banana prawn