A quaculture is the fastest-growing protein-producing industry. According to FAO statistics, its total value reached USD 232bn in 2016 - represented by a CAGR of 10% for the last six years (2010-2016) . In comparison with livestock production, p oultry and beef industries grew by 8% and 6%, respectively, during the same period. Although the annual growth rates of aquaculture remain high, they have been gradually slowing down, and experts expect farmed seafood production to stay on track to remain the fastest animal protein-producing industry in the next decade. However, sustained growth of the aquaculture industry requires tackling different environmental, technological and societal challenges.
Aquaculture is an innovative industry. This is clearly visible in the development of new farming technology, such as recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and offshore aquaculture. Other technological improvements require advances in feeding and management practices (i.e. software tools), automation, use of big data, artificial intelligence, among others. From an environmental point of view, f ish farmers and feed producers need to investigate into how climate change (i.e. raise in water temperature, hypoxia and ocean acidification) is going to affect current aquaculture practices in open systems, as well as how nutritional strategies (i.e. functional feeds) or genetic selection programs may be deployed to promote fish resilience to environmental challenges. Other environmental challenges that the industry is already positively tackling is the search for novel feed ingredients to produce high-quality proteins and oils to replace marine raw materials and soymeal ingredients in aqua feeds . Lastly, functional feeds including new additives that promote fish health and welfare are needed when addressing environmentally-friendly strategies to reduce the use of antibiotics and chemicals. In this sense, health management plans and food security issues need also to be considered for the sustainable development of the aquaculture and its social acceptance. Other challenges that the industry will face are the co-management of the coastal areas with different stakeholders in order to avoid potential conflicts related use of coastal or limnetic areas for different socioeconomic purposes (i.e. nearshore aquaculture vs. tourism, recreation and/or natural protected areas).
Although the above-mentioned challenges affect the overall aquaculture industry (SMEs and large corporations), small-scale aquaculture like backyard and traditional fish farming should not be forgotten, as these practices represent an important income for low-income families in rural and/or undeveloped areas. Considering the sector of the aquaculture considered (crustaceans, mollusks, algae and fish), tailored strategies for improving profitability and industrial growth are required, as well as innovative approaches (i.e. thinking outside the box strategies) for overcoming risks associated to this activity. It is also important to highlight that the above-mentioned challenges, as well as others not mentioned here, need to be tackle at local, regional and national levels in order to promote a strategic policy framework for all stakeholders to adapt the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda derived from the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.