Seefischerei und marine aquakultur - wandel und trends in der nutzung des nahrungspotentials der meere

Abstract

Currently there is a radical world-wide change in supplying the population with fish and other sea-food. In spite of an absolute increase of the amount of catch the oceans are becoming relatively less important as a food-source compared to the rapidly developing fresh-water and marine aquaculture. There are several factors responsible for this development. The increasing demand for fish, due to the population growth, has to face limited marine resources. This situation makes aquaculture a hopeful alternative for the future supply of foodstuffs from the sea. The nationalization of the fishing grounds has led to decreasing amounts of catch for most industrialized nations, and to a sometimes considerable increase of the catch brought ashore by nations profiting from the law of the sea. In the industrial nations their demand is met by additional imports. In contrast, fishing protected by exclusive economic zones is only of limited importance for improving the food situation in the Third World. As marine aquaculture also primarily produces expensive high-quality food for the international market, the growing globalization of trade is likely to increase the global disparities in fish supply.