From the foregoing descriptions of various small-scale aquaculture operations, it is obvious that operators obtain incomes comparable or even better than average national per capita income prevailing in the localities visited.
With the exception of the brackishwater fish farming practices in Indonesia and the Philippines, most of the small-scale aquaculture operations developed from recent demonstration activities of government and semi-government agencies, particularly cage and pen culture operations and seaweed culture. Rice-cum fish and integrated livestock-fish farming practices, although with traditional background has not really caught up as fast in agricultural areas where they could be most logical.
The fishpen development in the Philippines is a very good example of an imaginative concept which was proven viable and the technique reached down to the ordinary fisherman in a short time. The results have been quite phenomenal. Not only have fishpens provided additional income to traditionally artisanal fishermen in the lake but at the same time also increased the country's fish production significantly. After 4 years of development an increase of 32 percent in fish production was attained. Fishpen production of 4–8 tons/ha/year is indeed far above the production of brackishwater ponds.
As a new industry, its expansion is quite fast, reaching more than 30 000 ha during a period of over a decade. On the other hand, the industry also show the sad effects of the lack of effective controls. The great number and area of fishpens created new problems. Lake navigation has been greatly hampered for one. Some areas traditionally used as commercial fishing grounds have been severely limited due to the haphazard construction and location of fishpens. Despite the designation of a fishpen belt, illegal fishpens continued to proliferate. Governments were well advised to plan thoroughly and to include the social aspects in the development process of the new industry in their respective areas, and regulatory measures should be rigidly enforced. The Philippine government is in the process of reducing the total area of fishpens in Laguna de Bay to the original maximum plan of 20 000 ha and relocation of installations along the fishpen belt zone.
Cages are very versatile in that they are used to culture a great variety of fishes. They are used to culture freshwater species like tilapia, gouramy, Puntius, Pangasius, common carps and the marbled goby. These species are cultured for local consumption except for the marble goby which is exported as it commands a very good price. Cage culture of goby is a very good example of the commercial and highly profitable exploitation of a not-so-popular local fish in Thailand, Cages are also used to culture marine species of fish such as the seabass and groupers for local consumption as well as export, especially the latter. Cages are even used to fatten crabs in order that these may command the maximum market price.
An important factor for aquaculture development is government support. The best example is the successful efforts of the National Institute of Coastal Aquaculture in Thailand in providing seeds for the growing of seabass to marketable size. Because of this support, the cage culture production of seabass exceeds that of grouper, the other marine species being cultured that relies only on seeds caught from the wild. The spawning technique of the seabass has already been picked up by farmers in Singapore and Thailand such that the government concentrate their research efforts in the spawning of other high value marine species.
An equally important observation is that rivers with moderate current flow within limits can be used as sites for cage culture, The wooden cages of the Nan River in Thailand could be adapted to local conditions elsewhere. These wooden cages are more expensive initially, but last longer than netcages. There must be other rivers in the region that are not being exploited as profitably as those in Thailand,
Speaking of rivers, the use of river water in the free-flowing ponds of Indonesia is a very good example of the application of a physical law - that water seeks its own level - to maximize fish production. Some farmers obtain water from irrigation canals.
The production of these ponds, area for area, exceeds by many times any other kind of culturing system. This particular system could be adapted to other rivers, even in the Philippines where other species could be cultured since carp is not very popular here.
The importance of fishermen's cooperatives as well as of good government control and enforced conservation measures is exemplified by the continuing profitability of the cockle concession in Kuala Juru, Malaysia. A free-for-all policy would have ruined the resource in only one season. Though the situation is not entirely similar, cooperative action by the seaweed farmers in Kuta Bualu, Bali could probably obtain a better price for their dried production at their farm sites or in Surabaya.
In addition to all the foregoing specifics, there are others that could be applied to all small-scale ventures, One of the most important is that it does not take too much convincing for ordinary fishermen to try new methods. The speed with which they respond, after receiving printed or even oral information, self study or observation tours, etc. is limited only by their lack of funds as observed in Thailand. Subsidies would greatly help as in the case of Malaysia, In the absence of this, they nevertheless strive to put up their own projects. Most fishermen use indigenous materials they can obtain free, such as mangrove poles, discarded styrofoam (from tin mines in Phang Nga Bay), old nets (twisted and wrapped around new ropes to hold mussel spats), nipa palm wall shingles and roofs; vines for twines, cords for ropes, etc, and save their money to buy only absolutely necessary materials. If funds are not enough, 2 or more, usually relatives, pool their funds to put up one project,
It has also been observed that a small-scale operator must work the project himself to make a profit or at the very least to make himself gainfully employed. Once he expands, he has to use more help or has to work in cooperation with the more honest of his neighbours. Even so, he still has to guard his project. This latter suggestion cannot be over-emphasized.
