UNLEASH AQUACULTURE GROWTH POTENTIAL IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

Aquaculture production in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) increased from 872 516  tonnes in 2000 to 2  960 084 tonnes in 2017; the 7.5 percent  annual growth was faster than the 5.8 percent world aquaculture production growth , yet the growth varied in LAC sub-regions (see the chart on the right) . LAC's 2.6  percent share of world aquaculture production was  much  lower than its share in world population (8.4 percent), world GDP (6.9 percent), world land area ( including inland water surface;  15.2 percent), world inland water surface area (8.9 percent), and world renewable water resources (35.1 percent).  LAC's 10 kg per capita fish consumption in the early 2010s was only half of the world average, and the region's population is expected to exceed 700 million in 2030, with 84  percent of the population living in urban areas. These supply- and demand-side factors bestow a great aquaculture growth potential in LAC. This paper examines the status and trends of aquaculture  development  in LAC (as well as sub-regions and major fish farming countries in LAC ) against various socioeconomic and technical backdrops ( e.g. geo-location, natural resources, population, income, food security, nutrition, health, fish consumption, fish trade and capture fisheries). The aquaculture growth poten tial in LAC is assessed from both the demand- and supply-side perspectives at the regional, sub-regional and national levels. Salient issues and potential way forward for unleasing aquaculture potential in LAC are discussed based on country experiences.