ABSTRACT
Between 1990 and 2010, aquaculture production grew at an average annual rate of about 10%, with the only concern being of increasing production regardless of the impacts. This paradigm has changed over the last 10 years with several governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders promoting a shift toward a more sustainable path. For this purpose, the global economic system needs to be accounted for.
As we have mentioned already in this book, sustainability is composed of three spheres or pillars: the environment, the economy, and society. In this block, composed of Chapters 7–11, we delve into the relationship that exists between aquaculture and economics. Throughout the following chapter, an overview of general economics, the dominant economic models, and alternative options to these models are presented. Understanding general economics is basic to knowing more about aquaculture innovation, technology, and policy function. To fully understand and study sustainable aquaculture it is a necessity to comprehend at least the basic concepts of economics. These aspects will help us realise, for example, why several existing technologies that could improve the environmental and social aspects of aquaculture have not yet been implemented or why some countries struggle to be competitive in a global market.
