Lessons Learnt from the Past to Mitigate the Negative Aspects of Aquaculture in Developing Countries

Abstract

Aquaculture is considered, understood and identified as the “only way” possible to bridge the growing supply-demand gap of aquatic products in the world. Vast resource availability with higher profitability, growing demand for aquatic biotic resources and limitations of natural fish resources due to overfishing have led to speedy development of aquaculture worldwide. However, especially in developing countries, the sustainable development of aquaculture has been hampered immensely due to a number of reasons. Accordingly, the aim of this paper is to investigate the relevant information, to identify those negative aspects in depth and indicate possible implementations or changes required to mitigate deleterious repercussions. Environmental pollution, destruction of ecologically sensitive habitats (e.g., mangroves, salt marshes, mudflats, lagoons, and estuaries), soil salinization, irrational introduction of invasive aquatic species to sensitive habitats, disease outbreaks, risk to human health, and justifiable social concerns are among the major adverse effects of aquaculture. In a wider aspect, these could be overcome by addressing the shortcomings of knowledge, policies and regulations, adapting better monitoring/management mechanisms, public participation and application of novel rational and advanced technologies along with appropriate strategic plans. Thereby, aquaculture could be recognized as the most environmentally friendly, carbon-neutral, food production and sustainable sector compared to other animal food production sectors in the world.