development that involves the use of
natural resources, particularly
agriculture. The concept of sustainability
is examined here because of the parallels
that can be drawn between aquaculture
and agriculture.The Concept of Sustainability
"Productivity without sustainability
is mining" (Dover and Talbot 1987). They
pointed to various viewpoints on
sustainable agriculture: supplyingenough
food for all - the food sufficiency/
productivity viewpoint; maintaining
average output indefinitely without
depleting renewable resources - the
ecological/stewardship viewpoint; and
conserving the sociocultural aspects of
rural society - the community viewpoint.
The Brundtland Report (WCED 1987)
stated:
The concept of sustainable
development does imply limits - not
absolute limits but limitations
imposed by the present state of
technology and social organization on
environmental resources and by the
ability of the biosphere to absorb the
effects of human activities.
.... sustainable development can
only be achievedifpopulation size and
growth are in harmony with the
changing productive potential of the
ecosystem.
The Consultative Group on
International Agricultural Research
(CGIAR) has a Sustainability Committee
which has stated:
.... all Centers [International
Agricultural Research Centers
(IARCs)] should view the concept of
sustainability as a guidepost to the
development and introduction of
agricultural techniques and
technologies. IARC research and other
activities should seek to maximize
output and increase efficiency in the
use of inputs, while minimizing the
extraction of nutrients and organic
matter from the soil and the
contamination of the environment ....
Production of good quality genetic
materials through basic scientific work
on the physical, chemical, and
biological processes involved in plant
and animal growthremains the critical
contribution that the CGIAR Centers
can make to the objective that must
underlie sustainable agriculture:
achieving more production per unit of
land and input at less totalenergy'and
environmental cost (CGIAR 1989).
Dixon andFallon (1989) have provided
an excellent review of the concept of
sustainability and the difficulties of
defining it. They favor:
a socioeconomic definition .... one that
revolves around social and economic
well-being for the present generation
and retention offuture options for our
children.
A recent IUCN publication (McNeely
et al. 1990) defined sustainable
development as "a pattern of social and
structural transformations (i.e.,
development) that optimizes the economic
and other societal benefits available in the
present without jeopardizing the likely
potential of similar bnefits in the future".Is Sustainability
a Realistic Goal?
Development policymakers now tend
to use three criteria for assessing the
efficacy of change: sustainabilitg,
equitability and environmental soundness.
Of these, sustainability is the hardest to
apply.
Ekins (1989) praised the Brundtland
Reportbut also saw problems in reconciling
economic growth and sustainability. He
referred to Mrs. Brundtland's call for
economic growth that is forceful and at the
same time socially and environmentally
sustainable; to the Report's call for growth
rates of at least 5% in developing countries
and 3-4% in industrialized countries and
to its statement that:
such growth rates could be
environmentally sustainable if