Aquaculture & Fisheries

Biography

Biography: Christopher Brown

Abstract

Aquaculture is ingrained in Bangladesh culture, as reflected in extensive public and commercial culture and favorable patterns of governance. Farmed fish contribute substantially to the customary diet, recently favoring increasing proportions of farmed vs. wild-captured fishes. National aquaculture productivity has increased steadily, resulting in a move upward in international rankings; FAO statistic recently showed Bangladesh as the #5 ranked farmed fish prodcuer, accounting for 2.6 % of global production. rnSteadily increasing fish yields have been supported by continuous cultural and technological developments. Integrated culture operations, family household aquaculture involving women and children, and management of previously unused areas have contributed to growth in production. Booming shrimp and prawn culture is transitioning to reliance on hatchery-based operations using PCR screening for pathogen management. Genetic selection programs have produced improved strains of Nile tilapia (e.g. the GIFT strain), and similar efforts are underway for Rohu and other carp species. Marine aquaculture remains underdeveloped, and is a likely focus of ongoing efforts to meet growning demands for human nutrition. Increased population and urbanization as forecast suggest that sustained aquaculture development will be critically important.rnFishes cultured in fresh water have generally poorer nutritional profiles than wild-caught marine fishes, and nutritionally-based aquaculture is under development. The mola (Amblypharyngodon mola) and other small indigenous species (SIS) are eaten whole, thereby making excellent contributions of protein, desirable minerals, vitamins, and essential fatty acids. These fishes figure importantly in addressing nutritional deficiencies, and patterns of increasing culture and consumption of SIS in Bangladesh are likely to continue.rn