Monday, April 23, 2012

Aquaculture needs to be reconsidered for Africa

Aquaculture could produce protein cheaply for the poor! That's the view of the FAO in it's suggestion that as aquaculture is an efficient method of protein production, it should be encouraged across Africa to not only create significant employment opportunities but provide people with a safe food source.

Logo of the Food and Agriculture Organization
Logo of the Food and Agriculture Organization (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Native fish stocks are being depleted by overfishing which is leading to food security issues in many places, not least in developing countries where the impact is devastating. 
 
According to FAO, developing countries account for 70 percent of the world’s total fish catch, with small-scale farmers contributing more than half of that amount. Dwindling fish stocks in countries where domestic markets account for up to 95 percent of all fish sold, spells disaster for millions of people in fishing communities. For many poor people, fish provides important nutrients, including protein. Estimates suggest that fish accounts for 22 percent of the sub-Saharan protein diet while in the poorest African countries, that percentage rises to more than 50 percent.

In 2010, world fish consumption per head of population hit a record high at an average of 17kg. Africa’s per capita consumption was only half that at 8.5kg. And this is in the only region of the world where consumption of fish is decreasing. The downward trend in production and consumption began some years ago even although all projections suggest that demand for seafood should be growing based on population growth, urbanization and economic growth.

Aquaculture is a reasonable response to this trend, says the FAO. Read more ...

This blog is written by staff at International Aquafeed Magazine which is published and supported by Perendale Publishers Limited. To get your copy of PPL's web application, 'PPLAPP' click here.
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