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Abstract
Asian countries contribute nearly 90 per cent to global production of
culture fisheries. Diversification of species is not happening in fish culture
because of the high value shrimp commands in the export market. Shrimp
farming is on the increase in all the major shrimp-producing Asian countries.
Higher the growth in shrimp production, higher is the instability in
production due to production risks associated with ecosystem complexities
and disease incidences. Most of the shrimp-producing countries have
been moving towards specialization of shrimp production for export because
of the high price that the shrimp asserts in the international market. A
comparison between the Asian countries for the period 1976-2002 has
revealed that Malaysia has maintained low growth and low instability and
higher diversification, and Bangladesh and Vietnam have diversified in
fish exports. In a country-level comparison, India, Indonesia, Thailand
and Philippines have shown moderate growth in production and export of
shrimp. The instability associated with their shrimp production has also
been moderate. Diversification in fish production as well as exports has
been suggested for assured income to farmers and the country. It has
been pointed that replacing, supplementing or rotating the shrimp farming
with culture of other high-value fish species like Asian sea bass (Lates
calcarifer), grouper (Epinephelus spp), mullets (Mugil spp) and milk fish
(Chanos spp) culture may ease the risks in mono-cropping of shrimp.