Rapid expansion of aquatic production in the world and particularly its marine components were analysed and discussed. The question was raised on the new mariculture development strategy, the new approaches and the possible modernisation of existing models. Marketing problems, environmental concern and disease outbreaks, feed and energy costs are mentioned as the main factors that contribute to the constrains in the future mariculture development. An analysis of marine fish farming development indicates some expected trends in rearing technology. It was stated that cage culture technology will dominate in marine finfish farming industry. However, offshore projects as well as closed system technology must prove their profitability prior to being widely applied. As for restocking programs which exist and operate in many countries throughout the world, many lessons are yet to be learned through research from a variety of disciplines. It is expected that a long-term strategy for expansion will be based on the farming system which improves the overall efficiency of the resource used, which will be both economically and ecologically viable and socially acceptable Following the current state and recognised local trends of mariculture development, national mariculture prospective and constraints are elaborated.

mariculture; production statistics; technologies; prospective and constraints; national trends

Published by University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb, CROATIA
Sponsored by Ministry Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia