Seafarming as Alternative to Small-Scale Fishing in ASEAN Region

Work Plan Implementation (Working Paper)	ASEAN/SF/86/WP/1
November 1986	REGIONAL

H. R. Rabanal
Consultant (Aquaculture)

ASEAN/UNDP/FAO Regional Small-Scale Coastal Fisheries Development Project
Manila, Philippines
November 1986

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT

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ABSTRACT

Fisheries is important in the ASEAN Region with capture fisheries and aquaculture as its two major sectors of production. Seafarming or mariculture is a subsector of aquaculture involving the culture of fishery resources from the seashoreline to the open sea as distinguished from inland aquaculture (freshwater or brackish) which is land-based.

Worldwide survey including that in ASEAN showed that coastal fishing communities are generally in a depressed economic state brought about by increase in the number of fishermen beyond the capacity of the available resources, use of more efficient or harmful methods of capture and/or major environmental changes (pollution, urbanization, industrialization, etc.) that have adverse effects on the fishery resources.

There is consensus among ASEAN governments to exert concerted efforts to uplift the economic condition of the large number of coastal subsistence fishermen in the region. Seafarming appears to be the most accessible and suitable means to contain this problem. Fortunately there are some established mariculture practices in specific areas in the region like the culture of molluscs (mussels, oysters, cockles) and seaweeds (Eucheuma) in open waters and netcage culture of marine finfish. Other aspects like crab culture and use of other finfish species like snappers and carangids for rearing in netcages, and the culture of other seaweeds like the agarophytes and edible seaweeds are undergoing development. Supportive services like production of seed stocks through hatcheries are also being looked into and the training of manpower is continuing.

An assessment, through actual survey and from published reports was made of the status of seafarming in each country in ASEAN. An attempt is done to identify mariculture projects/activities and the suitable sites where each may be done in the different countries in the region. Project ideas specifically for each country or a specific region in each country are put forward. These may serve, for each country, as material in the formulation of country programmes and can be referred to in requests for assistance from prospective donor agencies.

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1. INTRODUCTION

2. COASTAL FISHING IN ASEAN

3. STATUS OF SEAFARMING IN THE REGION

3.1 Brunei

3.1.1 Small-scale fishing

3.1.2 Aquaculture especially seafarming

3.2 Indonesia

3.2.1 Technical assistance for development

3.2.2 Netcage culture of marine fish

3.2.3 Mollusc cultured

3.2.4 Culture of seaweeds

3.3 Malaysia