Aquaculture: 1996 Publications

Author: Bailly, D. and Paquotte, P.
Title: Aquaculture and environment interactions in the perspective of renewable resource management theory.
Publication: Coastal Management 24(3):251-269, 1996
© Taylor & Francis

Notes : Aquaculture is characterized by a great dependence on the quality and productivity of the environment. Its development also bears a risk of negative environmental impact, such as pollution, landscape modification or biodiversity change. Therefore aquaculture development is subdued to an institutional context that defines the rules for the use and conservation of natural resources in aquatic ecosystems: The need to design such rules and the appropriate means to implement them is widely recognized today, but an increasing number of conflicts and collapses in relation to environmental issues attests to the difficulties in designing and implementing efficient environmental or management policies. Considering the diversity and complexity of issues covered by the term ''environmental problems'' in the case of aquaculture, a socioeconomic approach is proposed in this article to review various policy options as envisaged by the theory. This approach refers to the economic theory of externalities and to renewable resources management. It focuses on institutions and policies intended to regulate competition among uses of common property resources. It is illustrated by examples drawn from the experience of Western European countries about aquaculture development and environmental issues.