Use of wild fish and other aquatic organisms as feed in aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific 67
- MAJOR TRENDS IN ASIAN AQUACULTURE
Global and Asian aquaculture production has been and still is dominated by finfish
(Figure 1). If seaweed culture is omitted from the calculations, finfish aquaculture
accounted for 62.2 and 61.8 percent of Asian aquaculture production in 1995
and 2004, respectively. The
relative contribution of each
of the commodity groups has,
however, remained almost
unchanged over the last decade.
The only significant variation
recorded was a two-fold
increase in the contribution of
crustaceans to the total volume
(Figure 1). Freshwater species
contribute most to finfish
production, while the relative
proportions contributed by
the three culture environments
(freshwater, brackishwater and
BOX 1
Fishmeal and trash fish/low-value fish use in the Asia-Pacific region
Asia-Pacific aquaculture currently uses an estimated 2 388 thousand tonnes of fishmeal (equivalent
to 10 271 thousand tonnes of raw material) and 2 465 thousand to 3 882 thousand tonnes of trash
fish/low-value fish as a direct feed source. The low and high predictions for 2010, respectively, are on
the order of 2 000 thousand and 2 191 thousand tonnes of fishmeal (equivalent to 8 386 thousand
and 12 829 thousand, and/or 7 338 thousand and 11 225 thousand tonnes of raw material, based
on expected improvements in efficiency of raw material to fishmeal conversion rates of 4.0 and 3.5)
and 1 890 thousand to 2 795 thousand tonnes of trash fish/low-value fish as direct feed inputs. The
estimates of trash fish use are based on production levels of cultured commodities that primarily use
trash fish as the major feed source and differ significantly from some previously reported estimates.
The estimates indicate that there would probably be a reduction in the amount of fish used as feed
sources by the Asia-Pacific aquaculture sector in the ensuing years, even though overall aquaculture
production will be higher. These reductions are likely to be brought about through better conversion
efficiencies in the reduction industry processes, better feed management and also through a significant
reduction of consumption by marine finfish farming through the increased use of formulated feeds.Photos: Photographs show the use of fishmeal and trash fish/low-value fish in the Asia-Pacific
aquaculture industry: A) pelleted feed prepared with fishmeal being the primary source of dietary
protein; B) raw fish in farm-made moist feed; C) raw fish cut into pieces to facilitate better feeding.
A) B) C)Source: FAO (2006a)FIGURE 1
The percent contribution to Asian aquaculture production
(in volume) of different commodities, 1995-20041995 200423.83.2
1.7 43.5 2.225.7Aquatic plant Crustaceans
Diadromous fish Freshwater fish
Marine fish Molluscs- 7
6. 2 - 9 1. 8
- 2 22. 2