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

Use of wild fish and other aquatic organisms as feed in aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific 71

FIGURE 5

Percent changes in global and Asian finfish and crustacean aquaculture production. Freshwater

finfish species that are generally fed formulated feed are indicated as separate entities

Source: FAO (2006a)

Global Asian

often carnivorous), the supply of aquaculture feeds with a high level and quality of
protein emerges as an important factor.
However, the direct utilization of trash fish and low-value and small-sized live fish
in growing high-value fish species is relatively new in Chinese aquaculture. It is often
perceived that the direct use of large quantities of trash fish as feed by this sector has
lead to adverse impacts on the environment and fishery resources, even though explicit
scientific evidence is often lacking. In the past, there has been a lack of government
policies to adequately guide the development of this type of aquaculture. As a result,

6%

4%

1%

3%

1%

11%

71%

3%

1980

Common carp Tilapia Salmonids

Ee ls All marine fish All brackishwater fish

Other freshwater fish Crustaceans

11%

5%

<1%

1%

2% 3%

70%

8%

2000

13%

6%

<1%

3% 2%

3%

72% 1%

2004

13%

4%

5%

3%

8% 6%

58%

3%

1980

Common carp Tilap ia S alm o nid s

Eels A ll m arine fi s h All brackishwater fish

Other f reshwater fi sh Crustaceans

13%

4%

5%

3%

8% 6%

58%

3%

1980

Common carp Tilapia Salmonids

Eels All marine f ish All brackishwater fish

Other f reshwater f ish Crustaceans

12%

4%

3%

2%

6%

5%

60%

8%

1990

11%

6%

2%

1%

7%

3%

59%

11%

2004

9%

4%

<1 %

2%

1%

6%

69%

8%

1990

11%

5% 3 %

1%

7%

3%

63%

7%

2000