Analyzing the Growth Opportunities and Systemic Bottlenecks in Bangladesh Aquaculture
Aquaculture is defined by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as the farming of aquatic organisms including fish, molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic plants. Farming implies some sort of intervention in the rearing process to enhance production, such as regular stocking, feeding, protection from predators, etc. Farming also implies individual or corporate ownership of the stock being cultivated, the planning, development, and operation of aquaculture systems, sites, facilities, practices, production, and transport.
Aquaculture, which has existed for thousands of years, began significantly contributing to global food supplies and rural economies approximately three decades ago. In 1974, aquaculture accounted for only 7% of fish for human consumption, but by 1994, this share rose to 26%, and by 2020, it reached 46%.
Over the past 50 years, per capita consumption of aquatic foods has more than doubled, averaging around 20.2 kg globally in 2020. Consequently, global production soared to 214 million tonnes by 2020, with aquatic foods supplying approximately 17% of the world’s animal protein intake, exceeding 50% in some Asian and African countries.
Changing Global Trends in AquacultureIn recent times, there has been a notable shift in aquaculture towards more semi-intensive and intensive methods of farming, marking a significant change in the industry’s approach. This shift is driven by the goals of achieving greater profitability and productivity.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) notes that this change is necessitated by the growing global demand for seafood, coupled with the need for better use of resources. The transition from Extensive to Semi-intensive farming involves controlled pond environments, while intensive farming uses sophisticated technologies like recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS).
