養殖漁業成為解決漁獲需求問題的關鍵 | 環境資訊中心
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養殖漁業成為解決漁獲需求問題的關鍵

2006年09月08日
ENS印度,新德里報導;Nina L.、蔡秦怡編譯;蔡麗伶、陳瑞賓審校

人口增加使魚獲需求大量增加(圖片來源:聯合國糧農組織)聯合國糧農組織(FAO)發出警訊,全球的魚類消費數量不斷成長,養殖漁業的供應位居關鍵,但養殖漁業是否能克服經濟與環境的挑戰,且充分滿足需求,仍是未定論。根據糧農組織的報告,至2030年須增加4000萬噸的漁獲,才能打平目前消費的需求量,而若想要仰賴野生漁獲則是不可能的。

報告指出:「雖然在過去養殖漁業可以弭平供需間的差距,但仍有許多的阻力可能造成產量減少,使得養殖漁業在未來數十年可能無法大量成長到足以應付需求。」

報告中發現,目前養殖漁業中供應了消費者魚獲需求量的43%。而在1980年代,只供應9%而已。野生漁獲自1980年代中期起至今尚稱穩定。幾乎沒什麼可能這些數字會有任何重大變動。

雖然很難說明所有海洋漁獲存量的確切數量為何,但糧農組織說,令人擔心的理由非常多。現代漁獲技術進步,人口增加及經濟壓力導致商業漁撈規模快速擴充,並且也使得漁獲存量被剝削無存的壓力大大增加。

糧農組織最新的全球野生漁獲評估報告指出:目前監測的600種魚類中,有52%已被捕撈殆盡;17%為過度捕撈,7%逐漸減少;1%從原先耗盡的狀況中稍稍恢復。

自然界漁獲量的耗竭及消費者對漁獲的需求,均在持續增加,尤其是在已開發國家情況更為嚴重。富裕國家在2004年內,總共進口了3,300萬噸,總價達610億美元的漁獲。養殖漁業是提供需求平衡的唯一答案,但這個快速成長的工業同樣也面臨許多經濟及環境的難題。

糧農組織擔心,倘若政府及國家發展機構不能調整政策方向,來面對目前已顯露出造成此區塊未來成長危機的威脅的話,日後對此部分將變得無能為力。

養殖漁業的重重困難,在那些以不良設備管理魚塭的發展中國家亦發明顯。日益增多的能源費用也造成問題,此外,還包括環境衝擊及產品安全的問題,必須一起考量。

Aquaculture Key to Meeting Demand for Fish
NEW DEHLI, India, September 5, 2006 (ENS)

Aquaculture is critical to feeding the world's growing appetite for fish, but it is unclear if the industry will be able to overcome its economic and environmental challenges and meet that demand, cautions a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). An additional 40 million tons of fish will be required 2030 just to maintain current levels of consumption, according to the report, and there is no way wild stocks can meet the demand.

"Aquaculture could cover the gap between supply and demand, but there are also many forces which could pull production in the opposite direction, making it difficult for the industry to grow substantially enough to meet demand in the decades to come," the report said.

It finds that the aquaculture industry now accounts for 43 percent of fish consumed by people - in 1980, that figure was only 9 percent.Levels of fish caught in the wild have remained roughly stable since the mid-1980s. There is little chance of any significant increases in wild catches beyond these levels, the report said.

Although it is difficult to determine the exact condition of all marine fish stocks, the FAO says there is ample cause for concern.

Modern fishing techniques, population growth and economic pressures have brought a rapid expansion of commercial fishing and greatly increased the capacity to exploit fish stocks.

FAO's most recent global assessment of wild fish stocks found that of the 52 percent of the 600 species it monitors are fully exploited. Some 17 percent are overexploited, 7 percent are depleted and 1 percent are recovering from depletion.

The depletion of natural fish stocks comes as consumer demand for fish continues to increase, in particular in the developed world. Wealthy nations imported 33 million tons of fish - valued at some $61 billion - in 2004. Aquaculture is the only answer to meeting growing demand, the report said, but the rapidly growing industries faces a slew of economic and environmental challenges.

But the FAO is concerned that momentum could taper off if governments and development agencies don't adjust their policies to respond to emerging challenges that threaten to damper the sector's future growth.

The aquaculture challenges could prove in particular difficult within the developing world, where many nations are ill-equipped to regulate fish farms. Rising energy costs also pose a problem, as do environmental impacts and questions of product safety.

作者

蔡麗伶(LiLing Barricman)

In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.