Freshwater aquaculture development in China. Report of the FAO/UNDP study tour organized for French-speaking African countries. 22 April-20 May 1980.
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China's inland waters cover approximately 17 million hectares. For aquaculture purposes, they are subdivided into five regions and approximately 2.74 million hectares, mostly in southeast China, have been specially prepared. Almost 28 percent of this area is made up of fish ponds, the rest consist of lakes, reservoirs, rivers and channels. Freshwater fish production totalled 1 115 900 t in 1979. Fish culture accounted for 813 300 t, not counting almost 40 000 million fry. The 20 or so economical ly significant species are classified in three groups, the most popular of which comprises the four Chinese carps (grass, black, silver and bighead). Fish culture has developed rapidly over the past 30 years, but especially since 1960, when use of controlled spawning of the Chinese carp became more widespread. The other reasons for this spectacular development are also given. Administrative organization at the central, regional and local levels, as well as the planning process are briefly desc ribed. The organization of the three institutes visited in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Wuhan, is described and their subjects of research given. The different farming systems for producing fry and fingerlings, as well as fish for consumption are described next. The great majority of Chinese carp fry and fingerlings are produced in hatcheries, by means of controlled spawning in ponds or by artificial fertilization. The larvae are either sold or placed in a monospecies nursery pond where they reach 2–3 cm in less than a month. The fry may be transferred to a fingerling pond until they grow to between 12 and 30 cm. For this second stage, either single species or semi-intensive polyculture techniques may be used. It is usually carried out in a pond, but the use of floating cages and fish pens were also observed. Food-fish are produced in ponds using the semi-intensive farming system based on polyculture using organic manure and supplementary feeding. The principles used, the way they are app lied and the results obtained are described in detail, while special sections on integrated development, tilapia farming and pond features are also included. The average annual yield in 1979 was 2 750 kg/ha. Harvest of up to 15 t/ha have however been obtained on a small scale. Extensive fish culture in river and channel pens, in natural lakes and reservoirs is then dealt with on the basis of data collected locally. Average yields in 1978 were 308 135 and 90 kg/ha/year, respectively. In these e nvironments too, fish culture in cages is developing rapidly and both extensive and intensive polyculture of Chinese carps is being practised. Finally, the distribution and marketing of fry and fish for consumption, as well as two associated industries are briefly described. Conclusions as regards the organization of the study tour and the information it provided for French-speaking Africa and China, form the basis of a series of specific recommendations, geared to encourage future fish cultur e development in these two regions.