Chinese integrated fish farming: a comparative bioeconomic analysis |
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| Authors: | H Chen B Hu A T Charles |
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| Institution: | Fisheries Economics Department, Freshwater Fisheries Research Centre, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China;Department of Finance and Management Science, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada |
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| Abstract: | This paper provides an overview of the structure and performance of Chinese integrated pond fish farming systems, based on analysis of survey data for 1013 ponds on 101 farms in eight Chinese provinces. A province-by-province examination of gross and net fish yields supports the traditional Chinese classification of provinces into high, medium and low productivity classes according to fish farm output: average net fish yields for surveyed ponds in each class were 7958,4981 and 3321 kg ha?1 year?1 respectively. The paper includes summaries and analyses of data on fish stocking and harvesting, use of feeds and fertilizers, fish-animal integration, capital inputs, and the overall cost and revenue structure in each productivity class. In addition to variations in aggregate input and output levels, a key difference between productivity classes is seen to lie in the stocking model utilized: filter-feeding fish dominate in poorer areas, while ‘feeding fish’ (grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes), black carp, Mylopharyngodon piceus (Richardson), and omnivorous carps) dominate in high-productivity provinces. These results are examined in light of regional differences in culturing tradition, socio-economics, infrastructure, climate and geographical factors. |
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