The collapse of wild fish stocks has introduced new opportunities in aquaculture to expand operations from inland to offshore. China in the last 30 years has become an extraordinary leader in fish production and distribution. Since 2001 when it joined the World Trade Organization, productivity has gone up and trade has improved dramatically particularly in aquatic products. But, many problems continue to submerge rather than afloat the aquaculture industry. Disease, illegal drug use, and banned feed methods contribute to global concerns on how fish farming is currently managed in China. While the Chinese government has made tremendous strides to meeting trade standardization objectives, the failure to execute appropriate environmental enforcement at the national level devalues enhancement and conservation efforts of fisheries in numerous provinces. This paper will explore a wide range of related topics encompassing China’s rise in aquaculture with a respect to environmental protection, health and safety.

1. Complexities Surrounding the Fishing Industry

2. I. Brief Introduction to Aquaculture
• Historical Perspective
• Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture (IMTA)
II. Current Manifestations
• Environmental Protection Laws post 1979
• World Trade Organization (WTO) membership 2001
III. Future Outlook
• Farmer Professional Associations (FPAs)
• Feminization in Agriculture
• Research & Development
• Centralization
Table of contents

3. Historical Perspective
• Appeared as early as 5th century B.C.E (before common era)
• First written record offered Westerners literature on seed production and techniques for
domestication
• Transformed into a science involving the physiology and pathology of fish
• Modern day fish culturist since the green revolution of the 1960s and 1970s further carried on the
science of artificial propagation in fish through the application of fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides,
and other biotechnology products
Brief Introduction to Aquaculture

4. “Here are five ways of making a living, the
foremost of which is in aquatic husbandry, by
which I mean fish culture. You construct a
pond out of six mou of land. In the pond you
build nine islands. Place into the pond plenty
of aquatic plants that are folded over several
times. Then collect twenty gravid carp that are
three chih in length and four male carp that are
also three chih in length. Introduce these carp
into the pond during the early part of the
second moon of the year. Leave the water
undisturbed, and the fish will spawn.”
The Chinese Fish Culture Classic written by
Fan Lee - 5th century B.C.E

5. •An alternative polyculture technique
that uses artificial enhancement
processes for cultivating fish species in a
safe, environmentally sound way which
reduces the build-up of organic matter
that otherwise would cause disease,
parasites, and other defects among fish,
if excessive nutrients rose to dangerous
levels
•Mussels, oysters, and crabs serve to feed
on what is left by the cultivated finfish
like salmon, tuna, carp, or tilapia, by
consuming fish feed and absorbing
organic matter—which is turned into a
nutrient source for biofilters. Alongside
shellfish, aquatic plants such as kelp
and nori also benefit from coexisting
with other species in the same space as
nutrients contribute to their increased
size
Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture
(IMTA) 1970s, 1990s
Figure 1-1 Recirculating Marine Ecosystem of Scale

6. Based on a Concept of Recycling
(Each Species Plays a Central Role)

7. Current Manifestations of Sustainable
Principles
Environmental Protection Laws Post 1979
• Marine Environmental Protection Law (1982)- Prescribed law intended to prevent damage to the marine
environment resulting from coastal construction projects, offshore oil exploration, navigation of ships,
wastes dumping, and discharge of land-sourced pollutants EX. Three Gorges Dam Reservoir
• Law on Prevention and Control of Water Pollution (1984)- Enacted law advanced the notion that any
economic development sanctioned by the state, private enterprise, or institution on or near waterway was
unavoidably subject to environmental impact assessments (EIAs) EX. Chapter III, Article 13
• The Fisheries Law (1986)- Ratified law delegated the department of fishery administrations in counties
under the Ministry of Agriculture to foresee application, maintenance, and development of the state’s
inland and marine fisheries EX. Government prosecution applies to individuals and businesses
*These laws in tandem elevated not only the environmental consciousness of citizens, but also the people’s
government racing towards improving existing aquaculture infrastructure, policies, and standards.

8. Proven Results
Table 1-1 Marine and Inland Aquaculture Side-by-Side
1979-2002 (Areas: 1,000 hectares; output: 10,000tonnes)
Question: What differences do you observe between
marine and inland production?

9. Inland versus Marine
Inland Aquaculture – Consists of primarily
freshwater fish cultivated in pond, reservoir, lake,
and channel culture. IMTA is oftentimes limited.
Marine Aquaculture – Composes of salt water fish
by offshore aquaculture cultivation. IMTA
techniques are widely used.
Companies signal the closing gap between freshwater and saltwater fish within the last 7 years

10. Who are the main stakeholders?
The
environment
Small-scale
farmers
Government
Corporations
Chinese
citizens
Land, water, and air resources. EX. The Environmental Defense Fund, Global
Aquaculture Alliance
Local farmers and village peoples EX. Southeast Coast Culture Zone, Fijian and
Guangdong
Local fishery departments, county and provincial level bureaus EX. Huangian and
Shukou towns
Dalian Yiqiao Marine Seeds Company, Homey Group International, Zhanjian
Guolian Aquatic Products Corporation EX. Guangdong Evergreen Group
1.5 billion people by 2030 EX. Food security, poverty alleviation, and enhanced
nutrition

11. Opportunities Abound at China’s
Footsteps
World Trade Organization
• The Working Party Recommendations (1996-2001):
• China must eliminate dual pricing practices. Price differentiation of products relative to other export
countries are now to be competitive.
• The people’s government is obligated to protect local industries and service providers through price
controls.
• China must uniformly revise its domestic laws and enact new economic, trade and commerce
legislation in compliance with the WTO agreement
• The 21st century marked China’s shift in aquaculture from a quantity-centric to a quality-
centric producer. EX. anti-dumping and ecolabelling
• Full WTO membership was granted to the People’s Republic of China on November 2001.

12. Missteps to IMTA’s application?

13. A Provincial Challenge
Unregulated Actions Forego Enforcement
• Responding to Constraints- government allows a large degree of autonomy to local governmental
compartments
• Chen et al. propose increasing centralization. Why?
Centralization does not reduce sensitivity of markets, the economy, farmer incomes, and employment
because the state, not the province, reinforces international standards based on WTO agreements.
• Li et al. espouse more autonomy. Why?
Decentralization of aquaculture policies would benefit the country, because it would provide the
Northeast to continue to specialize in carp and the Southeast to prioritize tilapia production.
• A call for the harmonization of laws is needed to align China with WTO goals and the future
prospects of aquaculture research and development.

14. Seafood Market Locales
Where are the domestic markets?
1. Bohai Sea & Yellow Culture Zone
2. Southeast Coast Culture Zone
3. Yangtze Valley Culture Zone
China’s steadily increasing population and growing economy demands seafood markets provide
diverse, colorful, and abundant fish to feed up to 1.5 billion stomachs by 2030.
1
3
2
Question: How does this affect the local economy
and the middle class?

15. World Aquaculture Production
Rankings 2010-2012

16. Future Outlook
Future Outlook
Farmer Professional Associations
• Jikun et al. maintain that the liberalization of market and trade policies have impacted productivity in such a way
that China clearly has an advantage over other countries such as the US, Russia, France, and the UK
Feminization Empowerment
• Song et al. add the growing feminization of agriculture phenomenon provides yet another opportunity to
empower a particular group of citizens; women farmers
Research & Development
• Fishing industry must modernize in the face of globalization, but problems will always remain. It is severity of
the problem and challenges that add to aquaculture’s complexity
Centralization
• Key to harmonizing the differing laws, customs, and regulations set by a large degree of autonomy allotted to
provinces

17. Thank You!
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfp9D7X7-rc
Do you have questions, comments, or concerns?
Acknowledgements: Global Aquaculture Alliance, Food and Agriculture of
the United Nations, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, the
Netherlands Business Support Office, the Canadian Aquaculture Industry
Alliance, the Salmon Farm Science, the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences
*Member of the Global Aquaculture Alliance AND Member of the Environmental
Law Institute