The global food fish supplies, until recently, were predominantly of a hunted origin based on wild capture fisheries, and have plateaued at around 100 million tonnes. In the last three decades aquaculture has continued to contribute to the global fish supplies, growing annually around 6 %, China being the predominant contributor accounting for 60 % in volume and 45 % in value, respectively of the global aquaculture. If aquaculture were to continue its contribution to the global food fish supplies it is imperative that sector in China be sustained in spite of its critiques on grounds of environmental degradation and disproportionate resources usage. Many changes in Chinese aquaculture sector are occurring to strive towards attaining environmental integrity and prudent use of resources. Here we focus on changes introduced in freshwater aquaculture developments in China, the main driving force of food fish supplies. We bring forth, direct and indirect evidence, often unknown or disregarded by critiques, in support of the contention that Chinese freshwater aquaculture sector has introduced major paradigm changes such as prohibition of use of fertilisation to enhance plankton production in large water bodies, introduction of stringent standards on nutrient levels in effluent and encouragement of practices that strip nutrients, among others that will facilitate long term sustainability.
Keywords：Freshwater aquaculture, farming systems, environmental protection, sustainable development