Fish makes a vital contribution to the survival and health of a significant portion of the world’s population. In some of Asia’s poorest countries, people derive as much as 75 percent of their daily protein from fish. Aquaculture can assist communities in developing countries to address the potential of fish as a ready provider of essential nutrients, a tradable commodity and as such, a contributor to development and social stability.
Aquaculture has transitioned rapidly over the past decade to reach global status as a critical source of nutritious and safe food. Research, extension, policy and information systems are powerful mechanisms that must address several dimensions of food security at once. Intuition-based aquaculture is being systematically replaced by science-based practices and improved technologies from world-class research institutions and new innovations by entrepreneurial farmers and private companies.
We are passing through an era of increasing population, food shortages and unsustainable farming practices. We cannot think of food security unless issues connected with poverty and livelihoods are addressed. Since 75 percent of global aquaculture production comes from small-scale farms in developing countries we have to address a number of issues to ensure that the livelihoods and food security of all those involved in the sector are not threatened.
Between 70 and 80 percent of Asian farmers are estimated to be small-scale farmers. It is clear that increasing globalisation and the resultant trade liberalisation of aquaculture products is leading towards the marginalisation and exclusion of individual small-scale producers. There is a need for changing the management of both large- and small-scale producers to remain competitive. Recent experiences show that establishment of farmer societies are effective.
Looking back to Kyoto (June 1976) and the last global conference, the Millennium Conference (February 2000), there was a clear recognition of the importance of networking and related forms of knowledge sharing and learning. This panel reviews examples of knowledge sharing networks using knowledge platforms and different knowledge management activities. It is expected that such networking and wider knowledge sharing activities will intensify and we suggest a number of new future directions drawn from other sectors.