Aquaculture development is essential to meet anticipated future demand for aquatic products. It
has potential to contribute significantly to rural poverty reduction in coastal and inland areas and is one of
the few alternative livelihood options for many poor coastal communes. Key actions include: (i)
supporting aquaculture as a livelihood option in agriculture diversification programs in inland areas,
building on past experience, including ongoing World Bank and other rural poverty reduction projects; (ii)
support a new initiative for diversified and integrated marine aquaculture as an alternative livelihood
option for poverty alleviation, particularly for poor inshore fishers; (iii) improve environmental
performance and adopt environmental guidelines for of aquaculture through wide-spread extension of
better planning and farming practices, investment in infrastructure, improved service delivery and
environmental rehabilitation and market incentives that reward better practice; (iv) diversify brackish
water aquaculture as a lower risk option to coastal shrimp farming; (v) develop capacity and services to
assist local farmers to improve aquaculture management ; (vi) develop systems and improve coordination
of environment and disease surveillance and monitoring in coastal and inland areas in response to
environmental and disease risks; (vii) define investment needs for quality seed production; (viii)
strengthen communications and extension within the sector to share better practice experiences and
coordination; and (ix) ensure greater stakeholder participation in policy making and planning, with special
attention to participation of poor fishers and farmer