There is ample evidence that, when properly conducted, especially as a business (commercial) activity, aquaculture can make significant contribution to national food security, poverty alleviation and economies, factors which often determine policy makers' support to any sector. Yet, quantitative evaluation of these merits is poorly documented, particularly in developing countries, which often limits the much needed political and financial support to the sector for its adequate development. This paper suggests to measure aquaculture's contribution to a country's economy through the "aquaculture employment multiplier." While the document refers to "commercial aquaculture" throughout, the methodology developed can be applied to aquaculture in general.

A basic introduction to the public health problems that can be associated with shellfish consumption, this document provides guidance to the bivalve industry on how to plan, construct and operate a depuration center. It is targeted at new operators or those with limited experience, as well as fishery and public health officers who deal with the bivalve industry.--Publisher's description.

The third and main section of the document discusses ways of increasing the contribution of small-scale fisheries to poverty alleviation and food security through nine main entry points. First, the paper revisits conventional fisheries policies and legislation and makes suggestions on how those can be made more pro-poor. Next, the paper emphasizes the importance of capacity building and highlights how cross-sectoral interventions can greatly improve the livelihoods of fish-dependent communities. The paper then proposes a series of broad pro-poor or pro-small-scale fisheries principles, before discussing in greater detail three of the main management instruments adopted in fisheries: (i) property right approaches; (ii) co-management; and (iii) protected areas. The next two sub-sections discuss markets and how to make them work for the poor, and the important issue of pro-poor financing systems and subsidies.

This study provides an overview of the aquaculture sector in Ghana. It assesses the actual and potential contribution of aquaculture to poverty reduction and food security, and identifies enabling conditions for and drivers of the development of Ghana’s aquaculture sector. The study uses data collected from a variety of primary and secondary sources, including key informant interviews with actors within the aquaculture sector and relevant secondary literature.

In the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Region, it is estimated that around 100 million people eat fish and other aquatic foods (molluscs, crustacea) regularly. Aquatic foods are generally the most affordable source of dietary animal protein containing essential fatty acids and micronutrients, and are therefore of overwhelming importance for food and nutrition security, particularly for poorer segments of the population, and for sustaining livelihoods and driving economic development. However, per capita consumption of aquatic foods in SADC (2015) at 11.3 kg/yr is 79 percent lower than the global average of 20.2 kg/yr; moreover, the high consumption rates in some of the island and coastal states mask the very low consumption rates of around 5 kg/capita/yr in the rest of the region. With rapid population growth, the gap between supply and demand of aquatic foods in most SADC countries continues to increase. Taking only fish into account, it is predicted that SADC Member States will collectively have a supply deficit by the mid-2020s of around 570 000 MT per year.