Sustainable intensification of aquaculture value chains between Asia and Europe: A framework for understanding impacts and challenges

Abstract

Sustainable intensification (SI) is defined and interpreted in terms of a framework to support production of farmed aquatic animals in Asia and their trade with Europe. A novel holistic perspective to value chain analysis, informed by a range of sustainability tools, is used to explain the dynamic in the trade that is having significant impacts on livelihoods in both regions. The origins of SI in agriculture are first described and their congruence with aquaculture clarified. Asian aquaculture systems, based on their emergent properties, are then located within a SI framework considering possible boundaries (enterprise, zone or whole value chain). The implications of conventional intensification, and alternatives are explored with reference to specific examples and impacts on the local and global environment, human and aquatic animal health and welfare. The challenges to sustainability of such value chains and implications for their governance, food culture and consumer habits are considered. Local consumption of seafood in Asia is found to be a major driver of growth and alternative markets for exports regionally and in Low and Medium income countries (LMIC) are likely to impact on employment and power in the value chain between Europe and Asia. The benefits of viewing farmed seafood as part of broader food landscapes are identified in the analysis, as is a shift in the focus from volume to value in terms of goal setting. More holistic perspectives of sustainability also emerge as necessary to describe and interpret global value chains rather than limited reductionist, production-orientated views. A diversity of trends in the development of farmed seafood is identified in contrast to any simplistic move to intensification, likely informed by economic, environmental and social factors in producer and consumer countries. Statement of relevance Global imbalances in production and consumption of farmed seafood are stimulating trade between Asia and Europe. The dynamic of global value chains around this emergent trade and their Highlights  The concept of Sustainable Intensification is applied to the specific context of the global value chains linking production of farmed seafood in Asia and consumption in Europe  Key sustainability issues are discussed that are currently not embraced by certifiers and other influential actors of farmed seafood governance  Understanding demand, for the main and by-products, is critical to enhancing sustainable and more intensive aquaculture systems

Using systems thinking and open innovation to strengthen aquaculture policy for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

“…One aspect of finfish conservation efforts that deserves more attention in an aquaculture context is the effective communication with and participation of interest groups including the recreational sector, ideally done from the agenda‐setting stage. Proactive engagement is needed to establish an informed understanding of how aquaculture might affect other aquatic resource users, such as recreational anglers, commercial fishers or conservation agencies, before being introduced to collect perceived and actual concerns (Chaniotis & Stead, ; Little et al , ). Scholarly studies on finfish aquaculture have tended to focus on environmental and economic variables that affect the success of production, with resource users’ perceptions ignored (Kaiser & Stead, ).…”

“…In particular, the aquaculture sector in some northern parts of the world, such as Europe, will need to improve how open innovation is used (Stead, ) so that the sector can be more agile in translating its research findings into commercial reality. Urgency for this research has been highlighted by Little et al () who show market‐based governance based on northern norms are losing leverage to southern and emerging aquaculture markets such as China.…”

“…Understanding direct and indirect factors influencing survivability of juvenile fish in rivers is complex and requires systematic sampling to determine the cost benefits of restocking programmes (Youngson, 2007). introduced to collect perceived and actual concerns (Chaniotis & Stead, 2007;Little et al, 2018). Scholarly studies on finfish aquaculture have tended to focus on environmental and economic variables that affect the success of production, with resource users' perceptions ignored (Kaiser & Stead, 2002).…”

An improved prioritization framework for selecting new finfish mariculture candidates for research and development in Indonesia

“…Despite the positive development, Indonesia faces increasing competition with other countries in Asia such as China, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam, which dominate aquaculture production and global seafood trade. The competition revolves around a small suite of similar aquaculture products sold internationally by these countries (Little et al, ). For example, it is difficult for Indonesia to compete with Vietnam in marketing Pangasid fish; Vietnam has developed efficient production systems and has long‐established market chains for this particular fish thereby restricting market penetration by other countries (Nguyen, Nielsen, Roth, Nguyen, & Solgaard, ; Pham et al, ).…”

The Sustainability Conundrum of Fishmeal Substitution by Plant Ingredients in Shrimp Feeds

“…Additionally, total shrimp production fed on aquafeeds is expected to increase from 84% in 2012 to 90% in 2025 (approximately 8.6 million MT) [5]. The growth in aquaculture production and increasing feed demand could have significant environmental impacts, as most life cycle assessments (LCAs) suggest that feed probably accounts for over 90% of the environmental impact [22]. However, this impact is variable depending on the type, source, and form of feed ingredients.…”