Aquaculture technology has been evolving rapidly over the last two decades, led by an increasingly skilled cadre of researchers in developing countries. Rather than copying, or adapting work done in industrialized countries to their situations, these scientists are moving aquaculture research out of the box to explore species and production systems relevant to their natural resources, economies and social institutions. Studies from India, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa are highlighted in this collection of papers, covering the entire gamut of aquaculture science from comparison of tilapia breeds, novel feed ingredients for indigenous species, improving disease resistance, water-use efficiency, traditional farming systems, spatial planning and economics. More than a how-to book, this volume introduces the researchers and institutions leading the development of aquaculture as it expands into new frontiers. This book was based on a special issue of the Journal of Applied Aquaculture.

Aquaculture is a rapidly growing, successful approach to improving diets by providing more high quality fish and shellfish protein. It is also an industry with major unresolved issues because of its negative impact on the environment. This book is a pioneering effort in the development of environmentally benign aquaculture methods.

Aquaculture, Resource Use, and the Environment places aquaculture within the larger context of global population growth, increased demand for sustainable, reliable sources of food, and the responsible use of natural resources. Aquaculture production has grown rapidly in recent decades as over-exploitation and environmental degradation have drastically reduced wild fish stocks. As fish production has increased, questions have persisted about the environmental sustainability of current aquaculture practices. Aquaculture, Resource Use, and the Environment is a timely synthesis and analysis of critical issues facing the continued growth and acceptance of aquaculture practices and products. Chapters look at the past, present, and future demands for food, aquaculture production, and tackle key issues ranging from environmental impacts of aquaculture to practical best management practices in aquaculture production. Providing broad coverage of issues that are essential to the continued development of aquaculture production, Aquaculture, Resource Use, and the Environment will be vital resource for anyone involved in the field of aquaculture.

Published in Cooperation with THE UNITED STATES AQUACULTURE SOCIETY The rapid growth of aquaculture worldwide and domestically has caused concerns over social and environmental impacts. Environmental advocacy groups and government regulatory agencies have called for better management to address potentially negative impacts and assure sustainable aquaculture development. Best Management Practices (BMPs) combine sound science, common sense, economics, and site-specific management to mitigate or prevent adverse environmental impacts. Environmental Best Management Practices for Aquaculture will provide technical guidance to improve the environmental performance of aquaculture. This book will be the only comprehensive guide to BMPs for mitigation of environmental impacts of aquaculture in the United States. The book addresses development and implementation of BMPs, BMPs for specific aquaculture production systems, and the economics of implementing best management practices. Written by internationally recognized experts in environmental management and aquaculture from academia, government, and non-governmental organizations, this book will be a valuable reference for innovative producers, policy makers, regulators, research scientists, and students.

This document is directed to aquaculture development specialists, coastal resource use planners and government officials involved and interested in the planning and management of coastal aquaculture development within the wider context of resource use in coastal areas. It is intended to serve in the promotion of environmental management of coastal aquaculture. Guidelines are given for improved environmental management of coastal aquaculture based on an overview of selected published experiences and concepts. Potential adverse environmental effects of and on coastal aquaculture practices are addressed with consideration of main socio-economic and bio-physical factors. Methodologies are presented for the assessment and monitoring of environmental hazards and impacts of coastal aquaculture. Selected environmental management options are described for application both at policy-level and farm-level.

This report indicates that climate change will significantly affect the availability and trade of fish products, especially for those countries most dependent on the sector, and calls for effective adaptation and mitigation actions encompassing food production.

Aquaculture is the art, science and business of cultivating aquatic animals and plants in fresh or marine waters. It is the extension of fishing, resulted from the fact that harvests of wild sources of fish and other aquatic species cannot keep up with the increased demand of a growing human population. Expansion of aquaculture can result with less care for the environment. The first pre-requisite to sustainable aquaculture is clean wate, but bad management of aquatic species production can alter or even destroy existing wild habitat, increase local pollution levels or negatively impact local species. Aquatic managers are aware of this and together with scientists are looking for modern and more effective solutions to many issues regarding fish farming. This book presents recent research results on the interaction between aquaculture and environment, and includes several case studies all over the world with the aim of improving and performing sustainable aquaculture.

The continued expansion of aquaculture – in a wide range of environments and of a growing number of species has lead to increasing demands on aquatic resources. These demands vary with the culture species, the culture method and the environmental and ecological setting. While there are many examples of efforts to mitigate detrimental environmental effects, the environment remains the ultimate constraint on the future sustainable development of this maturing industry. The relationships between the activities of aquaculture and the environment are therefore of economic importance as well as of scientific interest and, for these reasons, a large international research community has developed over the past decade. In this volume, the resultant research is synthesised and critically reviewed, providing a source of reference to the most important recent developments at research and professional level. The authors are internationally recognised authorities who have made significant contributions to their respective research areas. The first part of the volume is organised in terms of the major culture types. This is followed by chapters of general relevance to aquaculture. The volume is designed to complement Biology of Farmed Fish (eds K D Black/A D Pickering), also published in this series. It is directed at fish biologists, shellfish biologists and environmental scientists working in the academic, governmental and industrial sectors.