Global Mariculture Production

To date, the net contribution of global mariculture to the world's fish supplies, along with the changes in this contribution, has been briefly discussed in this chapter. Primarily, the industrial sub-sector emphasizes how mariculture is integrated into the global marine food system. However, the greatest contribution to global fish production and food security has come from inland aquaculture. Although the dependency on marine ingredients persists and the reliance on terrestrial ingredients has increased, significant improvements in aquaculture feed efficiency and fish nutrition have also been made. This has resulted in a decrease in the fish-in-fish-out ratio for all fed species. This ratio is expected to increase over the next few decades as global demand for seafood rises and fisheries catch remains stagnant. The marine and brackish subsector is of particular interest for examination, as the importance of mariculture increases due to its expanding impact on global mariculture growth, as well as its recognized detrimental effects on fish populations and maritime security. The ecological services provided by the cultivation of molluscs and seaweed are becoming more widely acknowledged. These services are being quantified, valued, and developed into a market to increase production.