Improving food and nutrition through aquaculture in the developing countries

HOWEVER, IF THE BEST EXISTING METHODS WERE APPLIED MORE WIDELY, AQUACULTURE COULD PRODUCE TEN TIMES AS MUCH PROTEIN ANNUALLY BY THE YEAR 2000. THE TOTAL AREA PRESENTLY USED FOR FISHCULTURE IS ESTIMATED TO BE FOUR MILLION HECTARES. THIS AREA COULD BE EXPANDED TO ABOUT 30 MILLION HECTARES. WITH IMPROVED METHODS, THIS WOULD INCREASE PRODUCTION FROM THE PRESENT FIVE MILLION METRIC TONS TO 50 MILLION TONS BY THE END OF THE CENTURY. ONGOING RESEARCH NEEDS TO BE REINFORCED BY COORDINATED PLANNING AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THIS PAPER DESCRIBES SELECTED AQUACULTURES, INCLUDING THOSE OF THE CHINESE CARP, COMMON CARP, INDIAN CARP, TILAPIA, TROUT AND SALMON, CATFISH, PANGASIUS, WALKING CATFISH, MILKFISH, MOLLUSCS, SHRIMP, AND EELS, AND DISCUSSES THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO REINFORCE PRESENT RESEARCH EFFORTS. RESEARCH RELATING TO LDC"S SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC PROBLEMS CONCERNING A SMALL NUMBER OF SPECIES: CARPS, CATFISH, TILAPIA, MILKFISH, MULLETS, AND SHRIMPS. THE HIGHEST PRIORITY RESEARCH IS ALSO NEEDED ON DISEASES AND THE BROAD SPECTRUM OF WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE CULTURED ANIMAL AND ITS AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT. ONE OR MORE REGIONAL RESEARCH CENTERS SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO CONDUCT THE LONG-TERM RESEARCH REQUIRED, OFFER SHORT-TERM TRAINING FOR SCIENTIFIC PERSONNEL OF NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND DISSEMINATE RESEARCH FINDINGS. A NETWORK OF NATIONAL CENTERS SHOULD ALSO BE ESTABLISHED TO INVESTIGATE LOCAL PROBLEMS AND CONDUCT PILOT STUDIES.