Development of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture Technology and Future Direction

The expansion of high-density aquaculture in the limited waters has caused a wide variety of problems. The problems include environmental problems nearby aquaculture sites, growth rate of aquatic organisms, quality decline of farmed fish and price fall in the market. The phenomenon of aquaculture industry happens in not only inshore but also offshore. Therefore, the fisheries authorities have been changing their policy paradigms from mass production to sustainable production based on ecosystem. Other countries, however, focusing on relieving poverty and providing protein from fish production have not recognized the degree of seriousness. When it comes to enhancing the problems, National Institute of Fisheries Science has been developing the technology of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) to reduce and to prevent contaminants from fish and aquaculture sites, remained feed from fish farming process. In long-terms of view, the system is one of the most sustainable fishery production methods based on ecosystem. As integration of nutrient feed system from aquatic organisms is firmly established, the earlier mentioned problems will be diminished gradually. In term of the substantiality, this study was conducted. The research on management system for IMTA also has been incorporated. This study also investigated the features and current status of IMTA and demonstrated the developed management system and direction for the future advancement.