WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • SEPTEMBER 2017 21 (CONTINUED ON PAGE 22) that are being applied and tested are extremely progressive. One example of this is that the first Offshore Mariculture Conference outside Europe took place in Mexico this year. If all stakeholders (CONAPESCA, INAPESCA, research institutions and the private sector) keep working as they are now, aquaculture of many marine species will emerge, including yellowtail (Seriola), striped bass, red drum and totoaba. This last species needs special attention because it could come to mean to Mexico what salmon means now to Chile. Other species like oysters, redclaw and bullfrog, to name a few, are cultured in the diverse regions of Mexico. Future Challenges Mexico must face certain challenges and take steps to fulfill its potential as one of the world leaders in aquaculture production. Integrated Fisheries and Aquaculture Management Although fisheries and aquaculture activities are quite different, they use the same resources and compete for the same areas. Fisheries and aquaculture activities can coexist in the same space and support each other. Making management plans for one without considering the other is a recipe for failure. Activities such as tourism, sport fisheries, urban development and conservation also need to be considered. Management plans should include all the necessary activities and industry to support aquaculture, such as feed and equipment suppliers, processors, cold storage and distribution; the full value chain needs to be considered. A key factor when planning for the future is that we need to stop considering cheap labor as an asset! Modern, technically advanced aquaculture requires the development of well-remunerated jobs that will help people make an honest and decent living and improve their quality of life. Large-scale producers can provide a distribution channel for small-scale ones, while assisting them with training of all kinds. Biosecurity and Intensification Semi-intensive aquaculture in Mexico has been extremely ineffective in preventing diseases of economic importance, especially in shrimp farming. Improving biosecurity practices is essential for the aquaculture of shrimp as well as other species. Intensification of culture techniques in Mexico combined with good management practices, proper control of water quality, high-quality feed and the use of more-resistant strains of cultured organisms to known diseases could contribute to reduce disease occurrence and environmental footprint. Intensification means that more energy is needed for production, primarily from aeration. Electrical costs in Mexico are quite high compared to other countries, and although there are some tariffs that benefit aquaculture, they cannot be compared to the ones that apply to agriculture. This is one of the main reasons why production practices have not intensified. Intensification also means that more technical skills are Trout aquaculture in mountain spring water, Atlimeyaya, Puebla. Oyster harvest in Ensenada Bay. Trout in Atlimeyaya, Puebla. Offshore mollusk aquaculture on longlines, Ensenada, Baja California.
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