Aquaculture: Issues and Opportunities for Sustainable Production and Trade

This issue paper – published in the context of the ICTSD project on Fisheries, International Trade and Sustainable Development – aims to contribute to debates to develop fisheries and trade policies and rules that are supportive of both resource sustainability and livelihoods objectives. To this end, Frank Asche and FahmidaKhatun – fisheries experts from the University of Stavanger (Norway) and the Centre for Policy Dialogue (Bangladesh) respectively – assess current and future trends in global aquaculture production. Following an evaluation of trade in and market access constraints faced by aquaculture products, the authors explore the social and economic issues arising from the increased production and trade in aquaculture and how they could be addressed. They conclude by identifying a number of policy implications and options for sustainable aquaculture development.