Prospects and problems for mariculture in Hong Kong associated with wild-caught seed and feed

Abstract

Mariculture has the potential to supplement world seafood supplies and generate livelihoods and income. It can only do this, however, if it is sustainably practiced in relation to the input of natural resources on which much of it continues to depend. There is, therefore, a need to understand the links between inputs from wild sources, such as fish seed and fish feed, and mariculture practices. Such links are often not considered, with mariculture typically viewed in complete isolation from the status of its natural resources inputs. The mariculture industry in Hong Kong is evaluated, as a case study, in terms of fish and feed inputs, some of which continue to be derived from wild sources. It is argued that better use of wild resources, and a clearer understanding of the links between culture and capture, would provide many benefits to the mariculture industry, and, more broadly, to seafood supply through mariculture in general. Possible directions of development for the local industry include the widespread adoption of pellet feed and hatchery production of juveniles. While regional economic factors will inevitably determine the operation of the industry in the short-term, the biological constraints identified in this paper must be considered for long-term persistence of mariculture operations at the regional level as well as to ensure better use of natural resources.