Requirements to establish an offshore cage operation in SEA (original) (raw)

Cage aquaculture has grown rapidly in recent decades and is currently undergoing rapid development in response to escalating worldwide global demand for aquatic products. Cage farming in brackish and coastal waters in Asia is relatively recent with the majority of marine finfish aquaculture grown in cages. Open sea cage farming in Asia is not common. Inland fresh water cage farming in lakes, reservoirs and rivers is presently the dominant form of cage farming in Asia. Over the last 20 years there has been the development of clusters of small scale cage farmers located in sheltered coastal locations. The predominant countries engaged in this activity are China, Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, Korea and Viet Nam. Marine and brackishwater cage farming is diverse, with a variety of species being cultured at varying intensities. The main species farmed in brackishwaters are the barramundi or Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) and the milkfish (Chanos chanos). In coastal marine cage farming species such as amberjacks (Seriola spp.) and and snappers (Lutjanus spp.) are farmed and the cage farming of groupers (Epinephalus spp.) and cobia (Rachycentron canadum) is gaining ground, the former particularly to cater to the live-fish restaurant trade. Almost all cage farming of these species is based on hatchery-produced fry and the use of pelleted feed.