medium-scale enterprises (that are heavily con- centrated in Asia), the importance of fisheries to food security applies equally to small-scale aqua- culture operations and to small-scale capture fisheries.5 Numerous studies have shown that the food security of households engaged in such aqua- culture enterprises is enhanced through the cash that these operations generate, as well as from the increased availability of fish products for their con- sumption. Tis has been observed systematically in cases covering Bangladesh and India as well as in places in Africa south of the Sahara (like Malawi), where small-scale aquaculture has been taken up by local communities. Given the importance of animal-based proteins to
providing nutrients for human health (especially the types of micronutrients found in fish-based proteins, like omega-3 faty acids), it is clear that fish comprise an essential component of a food-secure future. Con- sidering both the limits to expanding rangelands for
Estimates published by FAO in 2014 hold that the share of world wild stocks that are overexploited is on the rise— with nearly 29 percent of fish stocks exploited at biologically unsustainable levels in 2011.
livestock and the ecological constraints to increasing capture fishery production, aquaculture represents the next and perhaps even the last-remaining fron- tier of large-scale animal protein production. Tis chapter thus focuses on the dynamic role that aqua- culture continues to play in providing animal pro- teins in human diets worldwide—and especially in fast-emerging regions of Asia.
KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN 2014
While there is significant uncertainty and debate about several issues in the fishery and aquaculture
62 THEROLEOF FISHINGLOBALFOOD SECURITY
arena, there is agreement on many important ongo- ing trends. Te overexploitation of capture fisheries is evident: estimates published by FAO in 2014 hold that the share of world wild stocks that are overex- ploited is on the rise—with nearly 29 percent of fish stocks exploited at biologically unsustainable levels in 2011.6 Other methodologies and approaches to esti-
mation paint an even more pessimistic picture. Te record-high capture harvest in 2013 notwithstanding, the longer-term perspective is clear: the total global capture production has plateaued, remaining stag- nant for the past two decades. Additionally, in many of the world’s fisheries, catches increasingly con- sist of lower-value fish, indicating potential further depletion of the stock.7 Furthermore, the stagnant harvest comes at both an ever-increasing effort8 and cost (especially in fuel). Terefore, it is unlikely that capture fisheries will be able to provide significantly more fish in the future than they do now. Te rapid growth of aquaculture carries with it
some major tradeoffs and constraints. Despite fast improvements in feeding technology, the sector requires growing volumes of feed. It is expected to continue crowding out other sectors for fishmeal and fish oil, and it is also expected to require large amounts of vegetable-based feeds, primarily soy- based, although there is ongoing research on other sources, such as dried distillers grains and solubles. As world prices of fishmeal remain at unprecedented highs, the aquaculture sector continues to search for ways to use fishmeal and fish oil more as strate- gic additives during specific stages of growth rather than using them as an exclusive feed source. While presenting a great opportunity, aquacul-
ture development must be conducted with high regard for the sustainability of the intensification of aquaculture. Efforts must be made to exploit syn- ergies and to integrate aquaculture with existing farm activities and crops, while relying on native fish species wherever possible. A careful choice of the species produced should result in lower depen- dence on (usually imported) feed, fertilizer, and antibiotics; lower risk of disease and environmental degradation; and improved resilience to disease and climate change. El Niño is expected to occur by the end of the year 2014 and last through spring 2015.
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