& The farming of the red seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii and related species as raw material for the hydrocolloid carrageenan rapidly spread from the Philippines in the late 1960s to Indonesia, Tanzania, and other tropical countries around the world. Although numerous studies have documented positive socioeconomic impacts for seaweed farming, factors such as diseases and distance to export markets have led to an uneven development of the industry. Using standard budgeting techniques, this study adapted production and market data from a FAO-led global review of seaweed farming to develop comparative enterprise budgets for eight farming systems in six countries (Indonesia, the Philippines, Tanzania, India, Solomon Islands, and Mexico). Although the basic technology package is the same across countries, the study revealed large differences in the economic performance of systems due to wide variations in farm prices and the scale of operations. Although seaweed farming is a suitable activity for small-scale producers, a minimum of 2,000 m of cultures lines are still necessary to ensure adequate economic returns. Greater farming plots may be needed if farm prices are well below the average farm prices paid in Indonesia and the Philippines. Policy recommendations are made to improve the economic potential of underperforming systems.

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A pilot project in the Bay of Fundy, Canada, is growing kelps, mussels, and salmon in an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system. Biological and economic results are positive, but social acceptability is also a critical component of aquaculture sustainability. Focus group sessions with several segments of the population (restaurateurs, residents of communities near aquaculture facilities, and the general population) were held and the participants' knowledge of, and opinions on, IMTA were recorded. Most participants felt that IMTA had the potential to reduce the environmental impacts of salmon farming, benefit community economies, and improve industry competitiveness and sustainability. All felt that seafood produced in IMTA systems would be safe to eat and 50% of the participants were willing to pay 10% more for these products if labelled as such. The participants felt that IMTA appears to be an improvement over current monoculture practices and would be cautiously welcomed in the marketplace. A promotional campaign educating the general public, food distributors, and other industry stakeholders about the positive benefits of IMTA would go a long way in gaining mainstream acceptance of this aquaculture practice.

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Entre 1971 et 1974 une stratégie de développement unique a été appliquée en Colombie. A l'encontre des autres stratégies de développement, celle de Colombie comprenait l'urbanisation et créait des emplois urbains dans la construction. Cette étude évalue la stratégie colombienne dans le contexte de l'urbanisation du développement économique. Seulement une évaluation partielle est possible à cause du nombre limité de données, mais dans l'ensemble la stratégie semble avoir réussi. L'emploi et la construction ont augmenté de façon notable, tandis que les bénéfices nets progressaient aussi. Cette étude évalue d'autre part (brièvement) les effets inflationnistes et les effets de la distribution des revenus de cette stratégie. Bien qu'elle n'ait pas été responsable exclusivement du taux d'inflation accéléré après 1971, cette stratégie y a contribué en mésestimant les variation des prix des denrées alimentaires et des matériaux de construction. les conclusions de cette stratégie sont tout à fait provisoires. Les parts de la main d'oeuvre ont sans doute augmenté, mais la construction a fait bénéficier principalement les groupes de revenus moyens et supérieurs.

Commercial aquaculture which, for this paper, is defined as the rearing of aquatic organisms that is profit oriented and primarily by the private sector, contributes to food security, directly by producing food fish, and indirectly by generating employment, and thus, income for the purchase of food. In addition, commercial aquaculture can be sustainable because it depends on private, rather than public funds that are usually lacking or scarce. The paper describes some enabling policies that are conducive to the promotion of commercial aquaculture. In particular it focuses on administrative and legal frameworks. The paper concludes that development of aquaculture can be enhanced by legislation specific to the sector rather than relying on general fisheries legislation; such a legislative framework (particularly for landbased aquaculture) would resemble that of agriculture. Regulations require expensive and time-consuming monitoring and enforcement; they should focus on environmental protection and a sustainable industry.

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