Environment and sustainability

Global population is forecast to reach around 9 billion by 2050. To feed the world, global agricultural output must increase by around 60% from present levels. This must be achieved against a background of increasing competition for natural resources such as water, feed ingredients and farming sites.

Maintaining environmental integrity while massively increasing food production will require farming systems to reduce their unit production environmental footprint. Many farming practices that are regarded as sustainable today will not be acceptable when scaled up. Sustainable intensification of aquaculture means doing more with less. The Sustainable Farming Systems Programme aims to help aquaculture become a more efficient user of natural resources, both in terms of farm productivity and environmental efficiency.

The programme develops better management practices for major aquaculture farming systems, and promotes aquaculture as a secondary or additional use of water resources. The programme focusses on practical interventions that can be directly achieved by small-scale farmers in a developing country context.

Key activities

Key activities of the programme are:

  • Development of better management practices for key aquaculture production systems.
  • Organising small-scale farmers into associations to facilitate cluster-based approaches to extension.
  • Development of culture-based fisheries as a secondary use of water bodies.
  • Development of strategic policy frameworks to guide governments and development agencies in promoting sustainable intensification of aquaculture.

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Subject tags

A collection of subject tags relating to technical matters.

In this collection

Is feeding fish to feed people a viable practice for aquaculture development?

It is an undisputable fact that modern farming of carnivorous fish and shrimp uses more fish as feed than is produced as finfish or shrimps; that is, the ratio between fish used and fish obtained is higher than one. The author shows that industrial fishing for forage species brings about a net contribution of foodfish supplies, without causing a systematic collapse of the exploited forage species.

Addressing aquaculture-fisheries interactions through the implementation of the ecosystem approach to aquaculture

The main objective of this review is to understand the status of aquaculture-fisheries interactions associated with the biological, technological, social, economic, environmental and other aspects of aquaculture development. It will also examine how the interactions are addressed under the EAA. It cover aspects of scoping, prioritising, management tools and plans within the context of the elements of ecosystem resilience, social and economic issues and the integration of aquaculture with other sectors.

Progressing aquaculture in this knowledge economy through virtual technology and decision-making tools for novel management

An essential element for the ecosystem approach to aquaculture is the use of virtual technology and decision-support tools, particularly if developing nations are to promote the key elements of aquaculture sustainability. We provide an overview of current and emerging issues and trends related to this topic over the past decade, an assessment of progress with regard to the expectations and commitments expressed in the Bangkok Declaration and conclude with some thoughts for the future.

Information and data needs: a strategy for improving aquaculture statistics

Recently, on the advice of the members, a Strategy and Outline for Improving Information on Status and Trends of Aquaculture has been developed by FAO. The overall objective of the strategy is to provide a framework for the improvement of knowledge and understanding of aquaculture status and trends as a basis for policy-making and management, and to ensure development that is compatible with good stewardship of resources and the environment.

Thematic session 1 summary and conclusions: Resources, services and technologies for future aquaculture

Presentation of the summary, conclusions and recommendations of Thematic Session 1: Resources, services and technologies for future aquaculture.

Thematic session 5 summary and conclusions: Improving knowledge, information, research, extension and communication on aquaculture

Presentation of the summary, conclusions and recommendations of Thematic Session 5 (Improving knowledge, information, research, extension and communication on aquaculture).

Thematic session 6 summary and conclusions: Enhancing the contribution of aquaculture to poverty alleviation, food security and rural development

Presentation of the summary, conclusions and recommendations of Thematic Session 6 (Enhancing the contribution of aquaculture to poverty alleviation, food security and rural development).

Presentation and discussion on the DRAFT Phuket Consensus and Strategy for Global Aquaculture Development

A presentation on the draft Phuket Consensus document as circulated with the conference papers a summary of comments that had been provided by conference participants. The presentation followed by a plenary discussion as the conference participants view the document on screen.

Phuket Consensus: A re-affirmation of commitment to the Bangkok Declaration

The Phuket Consensus is a declaration on aquaculture development endorsed by participants of the Global Conference on Aquaculture 2010, held in Phuket, Thailand, 22-25 September. The consensus builds on the Bangkok Declaration, which was formulated at the International Conference on Aquaculture in the Third Millennium, held in Bangkok, 20-25 February 2000. The consensus and declaration provide strategic guidance on sustainable development of aquaculture considering social, environmental, technical and economic issues.

Training of Trainers: Strengthening capacity of small holder ASEAN aquaculture farmers

This is the manual for the "train the trainers" course aiming to increase the capacity of small-scale farmers in ASEAN countries. The manual focusses on five countries and commodities: Snakehead (Cambodia), Tilapia (Thailand), seaweed (Philippines), marine fish (Indonesia) and shrimp (Vietnam). In this volume, lectures presented by experts are included. The training program included technical aspects related to the culture of commodities, marketing, access to information, organization of farmer groups, gender and good culture practices.