Environment and aquaculture in developing countries

Aquaculture and Management of Freshwater

Environments, with Emphasis on Latin America

M,WUEL ~MAR'~~NEZ-ESPINOBA and UWE BARG

Inland Water Resources and Aquaculture Service

Fishery Resources and Environment Division

FAO, Via delle Terme di Caracalla

00100 Rome, Italy

MARTINEZ-ESPMOSA, M. and U. BARG. 1993. Aquaculture and management of freshwater

environments, with emphasis on Latin America, p. 42-59. In R.S.V. Pullin, H. Rosenthal and

J.L. Maclean (eds.) Environment and aquawlture in developing countries. ICLARM Conf. Proc.

31, 359 p.

Abstract

The development of freshwater aquaculture and culture-based fisheries in most developing

countries facee socioeconomic, environmcntal, biotechnical, institutional and legislative mnstraints.

In view of the increasing need and pressure for environmental conservation and control, emphasis

isgivento difficulties &ady exper&nced in the implementationof development plans, management

schemes and regulatory measures, as related to the utilization of aquaculture and fisheries resources.

SociaLly oriented aquamllure development projects require long-term public sector support

and improved project formulation and implementation to be successful in terms of socioeconomic

feasibility and ecological compatibilily. CulLure-Lad fisheries in lukes and reservoirs need careful

assessment as to the potential ecological and genetic risks ofexotic fish introductions and restocking

measures. Intensive aquadture carries risks of polluling the aquatic environment with nutrient-

and chemical-laden effluents, spreading iish diseases and causing disruption of wild stocks through

fish escapes.

Multisedoral efforts should be continued on the integration of aquaculture with agriculture,

forestry andinland fisheries as well as its inclusionin river basin planningandnianagement schemes.

Regulatory measures to prevent and to limit negative environmental impact of aquaculture should

be enforceable and cost-effective. Const~uctive formulation of such measures can benefit from the

scientific environmcntal capacity concept, using modern hazard assessment methodologies.

Introduction

When referring to aquaculture and
environmental issues it is very important
to classify types of aquaculture. We refer
to extensive, semi-intensive and intensive
aquaculture and culture-based fisheries.
In terms of sustainable and environmen-
tally sound development, however, it is
fundamental for these classifications that

people involved in the activity are also

considered (e.g., producers, consumers,

retailers, etc.). Socially oriented

aquaculture can be clearly differentiated

from cash-crop oriented aquaculture. In

this context, aquaculture should be clas-

sified, when required, making use of both

technical and socioeconomic criteria. In

niany cases, it may prove useful to refer

to "rural aqunculture" within the general