Technological applications and adaptations in aquaculture for progress towards sustainable development and seafood security

Abstract

Abstract Fish demand has been steadily increasing globally. Due to stabilization of harvest from capture fisheries the aquaculture has grown rapidly at the rate of 7.5 – 9.2 annually. Currently, the contribution of this sector to the global seafood supply has exceeded the landings from the sea. A review of fish production and consumption scenario was carried out in a systems approach that envisaged case-based reasoning for the synthesis of new knowledge. This enabled the identification of ways and means of applying modern technologies to the existing aquaculture production methods. How the aquaculture systems can be transformed by such interventions to further enhance its contribution to food security which is at the heart of all the Sustainable Development Goals has been elaborated. Technology access and adoption, workforce transformation, and adjusting to the global value chains are the issues that have to be addressed. In this context, research and development institutions can help by leveraging their resources and expertise in motivating a review of the existing policies and knowledge transfer to the farming communities to shape the development of aquaculture along the sustainability pathways.