Status and scope of aquaculture

Abstract

About 71 % of the globes surface is covered by seawater and 1 % percent by fresh water. In 1990 global food production of all types were approximately 4.6 billion metric tons of gross tonnage and about 2.4 billion tons of edible dry matter. Of this 98 percent was produced on land and less than 2 percent came from oceans and inland waters. Plant products constituted 92 percent of human diet and animal products constituted 8 percent diet. Aquaculture production is limited compared to that from land-based animals. In 1966 the production of fish and shellfish was estimated to 1 mill. tons and in 1975 5 million tons (Pillay and Dill, 1979). The production increased to 7.7 mill. tons in 1985 and to 37.9 mill. tons in 2001 (FAO, 2003). Expansion has therefore been rapid in the last decade, Figure 1.1.