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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A collection of subject tags relating to technical matters.

In this collection

Regional Consultation on the Sustainable Intensification of Aquaculture in Asia-Pacific

The objective of the consultation was to develop a regional strategic policy framework to guide national governments and regional organisations in promoting sustainable intensification of aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific region. The consultation also identified priority actions and, where possible, practical measures for their implementation, focussing on intensifying aquaculture through more efficient use of resources and environmentally sound practices rather than by increasing inputs to the system.

NACA Newsletter, Volume XXVIII, No. 1, January-March 2013

In this issue:

11th meeting of the Asia Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health. Aquaculture community mourns Prof. M.C. Nandeesha. Got a story for Aquaculture Asia Magazine? AusAID funded project on Institutional Support for Development of Mariculture in South East Sulawesi commences. Regional training course on broodstock management in aquaculture, Vietnam 27 May - 1 June 2013. Video recordings from workshop on sustainable intensification of aquaculture released!

Case study on the impacts of climate change on shrimp farming in Andhra Pradesh, India

Shrimp aquaculture is threatened by climatic changes that affect infrastructure and livelihoods of farmers. Ecological changes, inundation of low-lying lands and saline intrusions into freshwater regions are likely to cause substantial dislocation of communities and disruption of farming systems. The focus of the present study report is on mapping the small scale farmer’s perceptions and attitudes towards climate change impacts and their adaptive capacities to address the impacts in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Policy brief: Vulnerability and adaptation to climate change for shrimp farming in India

This brief summarises the results from the interdisciplinary and multi stakeholder participatory study conducted within the Aquaclimate Project in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India looking at the impacts of climate change on shrimp farming. The brief further provides guidelines for development of policy measures to address the climate change impacts on small scale shrimp farming.

Technical brief: Vulnerability and adaptation to climate change for shrimp farming in India

This technical brief summarises the results from the interdisciplinary and multi stakeholder participatory study conducted within the Aquaclimate project in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India, looking at the impacts of climate change and adaptation measures in the shrimp farming sector. The brief further provides guidelines for adaptation measure that can be undertaken by the farmers together with the institutional, policy and science and technology support for improving their adaptive capacity to cope with future climate change.

Policy brief: Vulnerability and adaptation to climate change for milkfish farming in the Philippines

This brief summarises the results from the interdisciplinary study conducted within the Aquaclimate project in Iloilo province in the Philippines looking at the impacts of climate change on small scale milkfish farming. The brief provides guidelines for adaptation and policy development to address the climate change impacts on small scale milkfish farming in the Philippines and how adaptation measures should be implemented in the region.

Case study on the impacts of climate change on milkfish pond production in Panay Island, Philippines

This case study examines the impacts of climate change on milkfish farmers in Iloilo. Farmer perceptions of climate change, attitudes and adaptation strategies were mapped via focus group discussion, stakeholder workshops and questionnaires. Measures that could be achieved to reduce vulnerability to climate change include sustainable aquaculture practices; diversification of farmers’ income sources; diversification of culture species; utilising natural resources to increase productivity; and building farmer capacities through access to information and knowledge.

Science brief: Vulnerability and adaptation to climate change for shrimp farming in India

This brief summarises the results from the interdisciplinary and multi stakeholder participatory study conducted within the Aquaclimate project in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India, looking at the impacts of climate change and adaptation measures in the shrimp farming sector. The brief based on scientific analysis and stakeholders inputs, further provides science and technology solutions to be undertaken for improving farmers' adaptive capacity to climate change.

Impact of climate change on culture-based fisheries in seasonal reservoirs, Sri Lanka

The present study identifies changes in reservoir filling patterns and water retention period of seasonal reservoirs in Sri Lanka in five administrative districts from 1960 to 2010. Results reveal that there is high drawdown in the recent past in seasonal reservoirs compared to the 1960s, and a forward shifting pattern of drawdown due to altered rainfall patterns. These changes have affected the culture season and the duration of the culture period of stocked fingerlings in the reservoirs.

Technical brief: Vulnerability and adaptation to climate change for milkfish farming in the Philippines

This technical brief summarises the results from an interdisciplinary study in two municipalities in Panay Island, Philippines, looking at vulnerability to climate change, impacts and adaptation measures for milkfish farmers. The brief provides guidelines for adaptation measure that can be undertaken by the farmers together with institutional, policy, science and technology support required to improve their adaptive capacity to cope with future climate change.