In China, the initial years after the Open and Reform of the late
1970s were dominated by a supply-driven paradigm focused on
output volume in fisheries (Note: fisheries cover both aquaculture
and capture in this paper). To meet the increasing demands
from both domestic and international markets for aquatic products,
more and more priorities are given to the development of aquaculture,
which is now playing a more and more important role in the
output contribution. Besides, increased awareness of the need to
enhance fisheries resources conservation in the 1980s has led to the
development of an “aquaculture-oriented” fisheries policy, boosting
China as the only country whose aquaculture output outruns
capture and which now produces almost 70% of the world aquaculture
output. The contributions and achievements from aquaculture
are undeniable. However, the rapid expansion of aquaculture has
brought about such growing pains as pollution, food safety, disease
outbreaks, etc. The government has responded by shifting
policy focus, setting up regulations and introducing technological
innovations to strengthen sustainability and responsibility in
aquaculture. The history for the aquaculture development is the
history for exploration, while years of exploration comes with the
enlightenment that green growth is the key to a responsible and
prosperous Chinese aquaculture.