Over the past five decades, research and practical applications of sea ranching and sea farming have shown that both activities are necessary for the rational utilization of natural marine resources, to meet the increasing food demand of growing populations in China and in the world. To ensure their further development, the following points should be considered.
As learned from past mistakes, sustainability of sea farming and sea ranching development can be attained only if the natural environment is protected and the ecological balance maintained. During the 1980s, many areas in the intertidal zone, such as mangroves and mud flats, have been used to build ponds for shrimp farming. Results have demonstrated that over-utilization and overexploitation of natural resources only give unsustainable short term profits. The cost of environmental deterioration cannot be estimated in money terms. Rational planning and utilization of both biological and physical natural resources should be a priority from now on.
Genetic improvement of farmed marine species is urgently needed to support further development of sea ranching and sea farming. In this field, agriculture and animal husbandry are well ahead. Until now, most farmed marine species have been collected from the wild and because of their innate characteristics, they are not readily adapted to mariculture. For example, when penaeid shrimps are moved from their natural environment to a confined pond, they have difficulties to become acclimatized to their new environment in the absence of any selection and genetic improvement. Although some efforts have been made in this field, they are insufficient to be able to efficiently support this rapidly developing industry.
Sea farming and sea ranching should be developed systematically, involving many different technologies, for example for breeding, feeding, controlling diseases and processing harvested products. Education and technical training of farmers should be improved.
Sea farming and sea ranching have continuously benefited China and other countries, producing more and more quality seafood to meet the increasing demand. In the coming decades, these sectors should keep developing.
