Aquaculture Production and Its Environmental Sustainability in Thailand: Challenges and Potential Solutions

Tiptiwa Sampantamit, Long Ho, Carl Lachat, Nantida Sutummawong, Patrick Sorgeloos and Peter Goethals
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Tiptiwa Sampantamit: Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Long Ho: Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Carl Lachat: Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Nantida Sutummawong: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Thaksin University, 93110 Patthalung, Thailand
Patrick Sorgeloos: Laboratory of Aquaculture and Artemia Reference Center, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Peter Goethals: Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-17

Abstract: Though aquaculture plays an important role in providing foods and healthy diets, there are concerns regarding the environmental sustainability of prevailing practices. This study examines the trends and changes in fisheries originating from aquaculture production in Thailand and provides insights into such production’s environmental impacts and sustainability. Together with an extensive literature review, we investigated a time series of Thai aquaculture production data from 1995 to 2015. Overall, Thai aquaculture production has significantly increased during the last few decades and significantly contributed to socio-economic development. Estimates of total aquaculture production in Thailand have gradually grown from around 0.6 to 0.9 million tons over the last twenty years. Farmed shrimp is the main animal aquatic product, accounting for an estimated 40% of total yields of aquaculture production, closely followed by fish (38%) and mollusk (22%). Estimates over the past decades indicate that around 199470 ha of land is used for aquaculture farming. Out of the total area, 61% is used for freshwater farms, and 39% is used for coastal farms. However, this industry has contributed to environmental degradation, such as habitat destruction, water pollution, and ecological effects. Effective management strategies are urgently needed to minimize the environmental impacts of aquaculture and to ensure it maximally contributes to planetary health. Innovative and practical solutions that rely on diverse technology inputs and smart market-based management approaches that are designed for environmentally friendly aquaculture farming can be the basis for viable long-term solutions for the future.

Keywords: aquaculture production; sustainability; environment; Thailand (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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