ABSTRACT

Aquaculture is the fastest growing animal food-producing sector in the world (Nielsen, 2011). Fish and fi shery products represent a very valuable source of protein and essential micronutrients for balanced nutrition and good health of humans all over the world. Globally, fi shes provide about 7.5 billion people with 15-20% of their intake of animal protein. While capture fi sheries from both marine and freshwater sectors are beginning to decline, global aquaculture production continues to grow in this new millennium. Since 1950s, the world aquaculture production is consistently growing and peaked to 60 mt in 2010 (Fig. 3.1). A dozen species/species groups contribute more than 50% of the 60 mt production (Table 3.1). China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Thailand and Norway produce 49 mt. More than 87% of the world fi shers and farmers are from Asia but they account for 67% of the world fi sh production (FAO, 2012), indicating the need for scientifi c and technological inputs to Asian aquaculture.