Policy issues deriving from the scope, determinants of growth, and changing structure of supply of fish and fishery products in developing countries
Ahmed, M.
Fisheries policy research in developing countries issues, priorities and needs International consultation on fisheries policy research in Developing Countries issues, prioties and needs, North Sea Centre, Hirtshals, Denmark, 2-5 June 1997: 37-60
1999
Document Number: 313131
The paper analyses the major determinants of the supply of fishery products in the developing countries and discusses the relevant policy issues derived from the current context. An increase in the supply from capture fisheries in the long run will depend upon investment in resource and habitat rehabilitation, development of fisheries on underexploited resources, implementation of agreed catch limits, and reduction of discards and wastage. In aquaculture, supply will be determined by price, cost and availability of inputs, technology, infrastructure, support services, and environmental limits. Technological development such as breeding and genetic improvements, infrastructure and other support have the potential to greatly enhance aquaculture production in the medium term. However, the supply and management of land, water resources and feed inputs will be the most critical factors for sustainable long term growth. Government policies with regard to the supply of fish need to focus on ensuring a long term basis for production, maintaining and conserving the natural resource base for fish production, and making poor fishers and farmers the major beneficiaries of the growth as an important means of strengthening their food security. In order to be compatible with these objectives, policy alternatives should look at ways of increasing the supply of aquaculture products as substitutes to capture fisheries production.