Aquaculture in China and its effect on global markets

It is well known that Asia is the major source of aquaculture products in the world and that China has a long history in aquaculture, especially freshwater aquaculture, dating back at least to the Yin Dynasty (1,142 sc). The earliest documentation of fish culture was written in 450 sc by Fan Li. However, only in recent years China has emerged to become the world's leading producer of aquatic products. The transformation and dramatic increase of China's fisheries production in the short span of a decade is attributed mainly to the development and growth of freshwater aquaculture. This growth is due to utilizing available water areas, the practice of various culture methods with multiple fish species, and the reforms, new policies, and management measures implemented in the fisheries sector in the past decade. This paper provides insight into the development and growth of aquaculture in China, its present status, and the factors that contributed to this success. It also notes present constraints, future prospects, and the effect of China's aquaculture production on world markets.