Abstract
This paper aims to understand the factors which have enabled aquaculture to reach
a commercial level in many countries in Southeast Asia and constrained it in others.
While aquaculture has had a long history in Southeast Asia, its rapid expansion began
in response to market demand, both domestic and international.
In most countries,
aquaculture developed because entrepreneurs were able to benefit from these profit
opportunities;
government involvement was minimal. Aquaculture was endorsed by
governments as a source of livelihood or of export earnings but not promoted with
the generous incentives that other countries in the region now offer.
The most recent
expansion of aquaculture in the region has still been driven by the profit incentive
but this time it has been accompanied by government involvement. In some cases,
governments have been pro-active, deliberately promoting the sector with incentives,
motivated by the sector’s contribution to economic development, food security and
the balance of payments. In other instances, governments maintain an enabling role
but, having learned from earlier mistakes in the region, they intervene with regulations
to limit laisser-faire excesses. Although further development could be limited by
the unavailability of land and fresh water, shortage and price of good quality feed,
adequate energy supply and its rising cost, pollution and environmental degradation
problems and limited expertise among government officials, aquaculture is likely to
remain important in Southeast Asia for many more years ahead