Is Fish Farming Exploiting Third World Countries?
Fish and prawn farming has been a traditional local industry in Asia (the source of most of our aquaculture imports) for well over a hundred years. Its rapid expansion in the past twenty years has been a major economic boost for many of these countries – providing solid employment for millions of people, significant export income, technology advancement, and, of course, healthy food. Many fish farmers are independent operators, or work ‘lease-holdings’ as their own business. Seafood processing staff enjoy some of the best working conditions in Asia – and some of the highest levels of payment. As in all countries, there are some environment issues relating to the modification of land for fish farming. Developing countries are increasingly under pressure from their markets to improve this aspect of production. A greater understanding of the environmental impact of fish/prawn farms, and more stringent development laws in the current generation of expansion, will result in more sustainable
Fish and prawn farming has been a traditional local industry in Asia (the source of most of our aquaculture imports) for well over a hundred years. Its rapid expansion in the past twenty years has been a major economic boost for many of these countries – providing solid employment for millions of people, significant export income, technology advancement, and, of course, healthy food. Many fish farmers are independent operators, or work ‘lease-holdings’ as their own business. Seafood processing staff enjoy some of the best working conditions in Asia – and some of the highest levels of payment. As in all countries, there are some environment issues relating to the modification of land for fish farming. Developing countries are increasingly under pressure from their markets to improve this aspect of production. A greater understanding of the environmental impact of fish/prawn farms, and more stringent development laws in the current generation of expansion, will result in more sustainable
