Principles of Sustainable Aquaculture Promoting Social, Economic and Environmental Resilience

321 Pages·2013·5.25 MB·English

by  Stuart W. Bunting

Principles of Sustainable Aquaculture
Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms, principally fi sh, molluscs,
crustaceans and marine algae. It has seen phenomenal worldwide growth in the
past fi fty years and many people view it as the best solution for the provision of
high quality protein to feed the world’s growing population, particularly with
the rapid decline in wild marine fi sh populations. Aquaculture now contributes
approximately one-third of the world’s fi sh production, and has increased by
about eight per cent annually over the last thirty years, while wild capture
fi shery production has remained static.
Focused on developing more sustainable aquaculture practices, this book
provides an ideal advanced-level textbook. It is based on extensive evidence and
knowledge of best practices, with guidance on appropriate adaptation and up-
take in a variety of environmental, geographic, socio-economic and political
settings. The author concentrates on low-impact aquaculture systems and ap-
proaches, which have minimal adverse effects on the environment. He also
emphasises socially responsible and equitable aquaculture development, to
enhance the natural resource base and livelihoods.
Drawing on a range of case-studies from around the world, the objective is
to show where progress in terms of developing ecologically sound and socially
responsible forms of aquaculture has been made. A tool-box of approaches to
support widespread adoption and appropriate adaptation of regenerating aqua-
culture strategies is provided, ensuring the book will have practical relevance
for both students and professionals.
Stuart W. Bunting completed his doctoral studies at the world-renowned
Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, UK in 2001 and continued
working at the Institute on various aquaculture development projects in Europe
and Asia. Since 2005 he has been based within the interdisciplinary Centre for
Environment and Society, University of Essex, UK where he coordinates a
wide range of research, development and conservation projects focused on sus-
tainable aquaculture, livelihoods and aquatic resources management.
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Principles of Sustainable Aquaculture
Promoting social, economic and
environmental resilience
By Stuart W. Bunting
Principles of Sustainable
Aquaculture
Promoting social, economic and
environmental resilience
Stuart W. Bunting
Abingdon and New York
This fi rst edition published 2013
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2013 Stuart W. Bunting
The right of Stuart W. Bunting to be identifi ed as author of this work
has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in
any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing
from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identifi cation and explanation
without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Bunting, S. W. (Stuart W.)
Principles of sustainable aquaculture / Stuart Bunting. – 1st ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Sustainable aquaculture. I. Title.
SH136.S88B86 2012
639.8—dc23
2012025041
ISBN13: 978-1-84971-076-3 (hbk)
ISBN13: 978-1-84971-077-0 (pbk)
ISBN13: 978-0-203-12743-8 (ebk)
Typeset in Bembo
by Refi neCatch Limited, Bungay, Suffolk
Endorsements
‘A synthesis dealing with the social, economic and environmental resilience
aspects of this most important food production sector is long overdue. Stuart
Bunting has the experience and insights needed to ground the work in fi eld
evidence and distil the principles on which future sustainable development of
the sector can be based.’ – Dr. Malcolm Beveridge, Director of Aquaculture and
Genetics at the WorldFish Center, Zambia
‘Principles of Sustainable Aquaculture is a timely and monumental review of what
is required for aquaculture to fulfi l its potential to contribute to socially and
environmentally sustainable development. It covers the diversity of systems of
both developed and developing countries, the theory of and practice for
planning and management of the sector, and is replete with real world case
studies.’ – Dr Peter Edwards, Emeritus Professor, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand,
and Advisor, Sustainable Farming Systems Program, Network of Aquaculture Centres in
Asia-Pacifi c
‘Principles of Sustainable Aquaculture presents a valuable landscape of trends in the
world’s fastest growing food production sector. Giving a systems perspective, it
is a timely balance to the host of recent books on the technological challenges
in this dynamic sector, and will support practitioners and policy-makers to
better understand both the basic underlying concepts and emerging best
practices.’ – Professor David Little, Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, UK

Contents
Preface xi
Acknowledgements xii
1 Introduction 1
Key points 1
Aquaculture defi ned 1
Global aquaculture development 4
Negative externalities 9
Prompting a paradigm shift 13
Sustainability: defi nition and practice 14
Sustainable aquaculture: origins and incarnations 15
Sustainable livelihoods approaches 18
Vulnerability 22
Resilience 24
Adaptation and alternative development pathways 25
Summary 28
2 Resource conserving and enhancing aquaculture 29
Key points 29
Prevailing aquaculture production systems 29
Aquaculture-induced environmental pressures 35
Ecological consequences 39
Mitigating and managing environmental impacts 43
Resource conserving and enhancing aquaculture 47
Summary 58
3 Equitable aquaculture development 59
Key points 59
Multiple demands and resource-user confl icts 60
Reconciling multiple demands 63
viii Contents
Participatory and interdisciplinary principles 74
Aquatic ecosystem services to society 79
Aquaculture for poverty alleviation and ecological restoration 90
Summary 95
4 Sustainable coastal and marine aquaculture 97
Key points 97
Traditional coastal aquaculture 97
Enhanced traditional practices 101
Silvo-aquaculture 103
Origins and evolution of land-based marine IMTA 109
Open-water IMTA 125
Small-scale, low impact innovations 129
Organic and ethical marine aquaculture 130
Artifi cial reefs 132
Fisheries stock enhancement, culture-based fi sheries and ranching 134
Summary 139
5 Sustainable rural aquaculture 140
Key points 140
Traditional rural aquaculture 140
Semi-intensive static water fi shponds 143
Multipurpose household ponds 147
Integrated aquaculture–agriculture 147
Aquaculture integrated with rice farming 154
Horizontally integrated constructed wetlands 157
Aquaculture in conjunction with irrigation and hydroelectric schemes 158
Cage aquaculture 162
Coldwater and highland culture systems 164
Summary 167
6 Sustainable urban and peri-urban aquaculture 168
Key points 168
Production systems characteristics 168
Wastewater-fed aquaculture 173
Indirect waste exploitation through aquaculture 181
Aquatic plant cultivation in Southeast Asia 185
Aquaponics 186
Intensive tank culture in Africa 187
Urban RAS for food and food-for-thought 188
Urban and peri-urban culture-based fi sheries enhancement 191
Summary 192
Contents ix
7 Enhancing prospects for sustainable aquaculture
development 194
Key points 194
Systems thinking and practice for aquaculture development 194
Stakeholder analysis 196
Joint assessment and decision-making 205
Joint fi nancial and economic assessment 216
Household budgeting 218
Environmental assessments 220
Summary 225
8 Promoting an enabling environment 226
Key points 226
Guiding principles for aquaculture sector planning 226
Better management practices 227
Supporting new development paradigms 240
Summary 256
Notes 257
References 259
Index 290