Complexities Surrounding the Fishing IndustryAQUACUTLURE IN CHINA

JAIME D. SIGARÁNUNIVERSITY OF BALTIMORE

I. Brief Introduction to Aquaculture• Historical Perspective

• Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture (IMTA)

II. Current Manifestations• Environmental Protection Laws post 1979

• World Trade Organization (WTO) membership 2001

III. Future Outlook • Farmer Professional Associations (FPAs)

• Feminization in Agriculture

• Research & Development

• Centralization

Table of contents

Historical Perspective

• Appeared as early as 5th century B.C.E (before common era)

• First written record offered Westerners literature on seed production and techniques

for domestication

• Transformed into a science involving the physiology and pathology of fish

• Modern day fish culturist since the green revolution of the 1960s and 1970s further

carried on the science of artificial propagation in fish through the application of

fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, and other biotechnology products

Brief Introduction to Aquaculture

“Here are five ways of making a living, the foremost of which is in aquatic husbandry, by which I mean fish culture. You construct a pond out of six mou of land. In the pond you build nine islands. Place into the pond plenty of aquatic plants that are folded over several times. Then collect twenty gravid carp that are three chih in length and four male carp that are also three chih in length. Introduce these carp into the pond during the early part of the second moon of the year. Leave the water undisturbed, and the fish will spawn.”

The Chinese Fish Culture Classic written by Fan Lee - 5th century B.C.E

• An alternative polyculture technique that uses artificial enhancement processes for cultivating fish species in a safe, environmentally sound way which reduces the build-up of organic matter that otherwise would cause disease, parasites, and other defects among fish, if excessive nutrients rose to dangerous levels

• Mussels, oysters, and crabs serve to feed on what is left by the cultivated finfish like salmon, tuna, carp, or tilapia, by consuming fish feed and absorbing organic matter—which is turned into a nutrient source for biofilters. Alongside shellfish, aquatic plants such as kelp and nori also benefit from coexisting with other species in the same space as nutrients contribute to their increased size

Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) 1970s, 1990s

Figure 1-1 Recirculating Marine Ecosystem of Scale

Based on a Concept of Recycling (Each Species Plays a Central Role)

Current Manifestations of Sustainable Principles

Environmental Protection Laws Post 1979• Marine Environmental Protection Law (1982)- Prescribed law intended to prevent damage to the

marine environment resulting from coastal construction projects, offshore oil exploration, navigation of

ships, wastes dumping, and discharge of land-sourced pollutants EX. Three Gorges Dam Reservoir

• Law on Prevention and Control of Water Pollution (1984)- Enacted law advanced the notion that any

economic development sanctioned by the state, private enterprise, or institution on or near waterway was

unavoidably subject to environmental impact assessments (EIAs) EX. Chapter III, Article 13

• The Fisheries Law (1986)- Ratified law delegated the department of fishery administrations in counties

under the Ministry of Agriculture to foresee application, maintenance, and development of the state’s

inland and marine fisheries EX. Government prosecution applies to individuals and businesses

*These laws in tandem elevated not only the environmental consciousness of citizens, but also the people’s

government racing towards improving existing aquaculture infrastructure, policies, and standards.

Proven ResultsTable 1-1 Marine and Inland Aquaculture Side-by-Side 1979-2002 (Areas: 1,000 hectares; output: 10,000tonnes)

Question: What differences do you observe between marine and inland production?

Inland versus Marine

Inland Aquaculture – Consists of primarily freshwater fish cultivated in

pond, reservoir, lake, and channel culture. IMTA is oftentimes limited.

Marine Aquaculture – Composes of salt water fish by offshore aquaculture

cultivation. IMTA techniques are widely used.

Companies signal the closing gap between freshwater and saltwater fish within the last 7 years

Who are the main stakeholders?The environment Small-scale farmers

Government

Corporations

Chinese citizens

Land, water, and air resources. EX. The Environmental Defense Fund, Global Aquaculture Alliance

Local farmers and village peoples EX. Southeast Coast Culture Zone, Fijian and Guangdong

Local fishery departments, county and provincial level bureaus EX. Huangian and Shukou towns

Dalian Yiqiao Marine Seeds Company, Homey Group International, Zhanjian Guolian Aquatic Products Corporation EX. Guangdong Evergreen Group1.5 billion people by 2030 EX. Food security, poverty alleviation, and enhanced nutrition

Opportunities Abound at China’s FootstepsWorld Trade Organization

• The Working Party Recommendations (1996-2001):

• China must eliminate dual pricing practices. Price differentiation of products relative to other export

countries are now to be competitive.

• The people’s government is obligated to protect local industries and service providers through price

controls.

• China must uniformly revise its domestic laws and enact new economic, trade and commerce

legislation in compliance with the WTO agreement

• The 21st century marked China’s shift in aquaculture from a quantity-centric to a quality-

centric producer. EX. anti-dumping and ecolabelling

• Full WTO membership was granted to the People’s Republic of China on November 2001.

Missteps to IMTA’s application?

A Provincial ChallengeUnregulated Actions Forego Enforcement • Responding to Constraints- government allows a large degree of autonomy to local

governmental compartments • Chen et al. propose increasing centralization. Why?

Centralization does not reduce sensitivity of markets, the economy, farmer incomes, and employment because the state, not the province, reinforces international standards based on WTO agreements.

• Li et al. espouse more autonomy. Why?

Decentralization of aquaculture policies would benefit the country, because it would provide the Northeast to continue to specialize in carp and the Southeast to prioritize tilapia production.

• A call for the harmonization of laws is needed to align China with WTO goals and the

future prospects of aquaculture research and development.

Seafood Market Locales

Wher

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domesti

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ket

s?

1.

Bohai

Sea

&

Yell

ow

Cult

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one

2.

Sout

heast

Coast

Cult

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Zone

3.

Yangt

ze

Vall

ey

Cult

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Zone

China’s steadily increasing population and growing economy demands seafood markets provide diverse, colorful, and abundant fish to feed up to 1.5 billion stomachs by 2030.

1

3

2

Question: How does this affect the local economy and the middle class?

World Aquaculture Production Rankings 2010-2012

Future Outlook Future OutlookFarmer Professional Associations• Jikun et al. maintain that the liberalization of market and trade policies have impacted productivity in

such a way that China clearly has an advantage over other countries such as the US, Russia, France, and the UK

Feminization Empowerment• Song et al. add the growing feminization of agriculture phenomenon provides yet another

opportunity to empower a particular group of citizens; women farmers

Research & Development • Fishing industry must modernize in the face of globalization, but problems will always remain. It

is severity of the problem and challenges that add to aquaculture’s complexity

Centralization • Key to harmonizing the differing laws, customs, and regulations set by a large degree of autonomy

allotted to provinces

Thank You!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfp9D7X7-rc

Do you have questions, comments, or concerns?

Acknowledgements: Global Aquaculture Alliance, Food and Agriculture of the United Nations, National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Association, the Netherlands Business Support Office, the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, the Salmon Farm

Science, the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences

*Member of the Global Aquaculture Alliance AND Member of the Environmental Law Institute