ABSTRACT

Rapid growth of aquaculture developments around the globe has been likened to a blue revolution.1 Aquaculture contributions of fish, crustaceans and mollusks have grown from 3.9 percent of total world production by weight in 1970 to 29.9 percent in 2002.2 Aquaculture has grown at an average rate of 8.9 percent per year since 1970, compared to 1.2 percent for capture fisheries.3 Aquaculture is predicted to play an increasingly important role in meeting food fish demands in light of world population growth, rising per capita incomes, urbanization trends4 and the depletion of many wild fish stocks.5