Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Thus, in addition to its own economic contribution, aquaculture can also induce, as
a spin-off, economic contribution to other sectors that supply materials to aquaculture
or use aquaculture products as inputs (ICES 2011 ). The numbers of people engaged in
other ancillary activities, such as processing, farm construction, manufacturing of
processing equipment, packaging, marketing, and distribution can be substantial.
Indeed, estimates indicate that, for each person employed in aquaculture production,
about three other jobs can be produced in secondary activities. The total aquaculture
sector, encompassing finfish, shellfish, and seaweed aquaculture, and those supplying
services and goods to them, provides employment and livelihoods to a total of about
20 million people (compiled from FAO 2011c ).
Despite these positive effects, decisions about aquaculture development are
often based on incomplete information, particularly in relation to the socioeco-
nomic dimensions. As a consequence, inadequate accounts for trade-offs associated
with different development options are made. Therefore, there is a risk that
anticipated and much needed socioeconomic benefits from aquaculture expansion
may come at the expense of increased and possible unsustainable pressure on
ecosystem goods and services (Naylor et al. 2000 ), ultimately jeopardizing people's
food security and livelihoods.
In contrast to many finfish aquaculture enterprises, there are, however, encour-
aging experiences made with seaweed aquaculture. An example on the important
role of seaweed cultivation for local livelihoods and sustainable development is the
introduction of seaweed farming on Zanzibar, Tanzania in 1989. In that year, the
seaweed Eucheuma was imported from the Philippines and successfully grown on
the East Coast of Unguja Island. Today, more than 90% of the farmers are women,
which have changed the life in the villages. Not only did the women gain indepen-
dent economic power, but the number of children suffering from malnutrition has
also decreased, which indicates that the health of their mothers has improved. As
daily income is secured, children are able to attend schools regularly. Furthermore,
seaweed farming has also reversed the trend of rural depopulation, since it fostered
self-employment of the village youths (Msuya 1997 , 2006 ; Msuya et al. 2007 ).
The question remains though, how negative effects on the environment and
positive socioeconomic consequences from aquaculture development can be bal-
anced. For instance, although methods of cultivation can be adapted and vary being
equally successful, the careful choice of the farming site seems to be essential for
any aquaculture success (Trono 1990 ; Buck and Buchholz 2005 ). Notwithstanding,
the seascapes are increasingly managed for multiple functions and services in
addition to provision of food, and this requires the integration of ecological and
socioeconomic research, policy innovation, and public education (ICES 2011 ). The
multiuse dilemma has driven many researchers, experts, and policy makers to try
and address issues related to the sustainability of aquaculture development from
disciplinary/sectoral perspectives. However, aquaculture development raises
questions that cannot be addressed in isolation. If it is to bring about the expected
benefits, such as in the case of the seaweed farmers on Zanzibar, seaweed farming
must address the interactions and functioning within wider ecosystem, social,
economic, and political contexts.
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