World Aquaculture 7 Table 1. Aqua food production by capture and aquaculture in 2004 in World, India and China (in lakh metric tons) (Based on FAO 2006) Fishes Aquatic Plants Total WORLD Capture 950.01 14.32 964.38 (61.9%) Aquaculture 454.68 139.27 593.95 (38.1%) Total 1404.74 153.69 1558.33 (100%) INDIA Capture 36.2 Nil 36.2 (59.4%) Culture 24.7 Nil 24.7 (40.6%) Total 60.9 Nil 60.9 (100%) CHINA Capture 168.9 3.8 172.7 (29.5%) Culture 306.1 107.1 413.2 (70.5%) Total 475.0 110.9 585.9 (100%) weeds mainly for food, while India is yet to make an entry!). Even expanding this production to the optimum sustainable level, we would fall short in a short time in history. There is a great need for expanding food production from tended waters farther onto the sea - we can utilize much of the area in India’s EEZ of 2 million km2, most of which is untouched for aquaculture. As a futuristic development for survival, in the context of the present century and after, the proposed exploitation of our vast open sea waters would be a necessity. From a short time perspective India might be in a position to meet the food deficits through judicious interventions, as indicated, and allowable intensification of traditional food production systems. But on a long term perspective, it would be necessary to turn to newer pastures spread across the ocean fringes and beyond in waters, which are larger than any land mass available, for ensuring survival of our teeming millions. M. N. Kutty Former FAO/UN Expert “Prasadam” Puthur, Palakkad 678001, Kerala Email: kuttymn@gmail.com 10 April 2008 Dr. Gulbrandsen responds Dear Narayanan, I have read your article “World Food Crisis, FAO Alert and India” and couldn’t agree more. Just as yourself, I mention the possibility of utilizing lower trophic levels in my article, which no doubt is a very important point, but I turn to international management as the main culprit because, in principle, the solutions are already known – we are just not able to make the full use of them. I think the main problem is that protagonists in question (politicians, investors and scientists) do not communicate, but rather live in different worlds as it were, so what I try to do, is to define an area in which these three worlds can interact more efficiently. I give just a few examples on how this may be done, but it is important to realize that what I present is a work model, and not a detailed strategy, but at the very least, it is a point at which to start. What I seek through my article, is the cooperation of politicians, economists and scientists to develop the idea further, and to push the agenda with me, be it towards the UN or other international bodies. I have, among others, received the support of two national governments, including my own, but they have so far stumbled in protocol, which is the first step in an endless loop of arguments of why we can’t do anything, even if we want to. Thank you so much for your support! — Jon
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