Aquaculture has a long history in Taiwan and is an important component of the Maritime industries of Taiwan.[1]

Oyster Trellis at Dongshi fishing harbour, Chiayi County
Oyster trellises in Tainan
Fish farms in Cigu District, Tainan
Aquaculture of sturgeon

History

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By 2006 the production of Taiwanese coastal aquaculture was valued at NT$11,817 million.[2]

In the 21st century high technology is playing a greater part in Taiwan's aquaculture industry as the industry struggles to cope with labor shortages and fierce foreign competition. The Taiwanese government operates six fisheries and aquaculture research centers.[3]

Shrimp and prawns

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The Taiwanese scientist Liao I-chiu is known as the "Father of Shrimp Farming,” having pioneered many of the techniques and overcome many of the technical hurdles which allowed the creation of the modern global shrimp farming industry.[4]

In 2020 Taiwanese shrimp researcher Luo Chu-fang received the annual award for outstanding contributions to the control of animal disease and/or veterinary public health from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Luo Chu-fang is a retired academic chair at National Cheng Kung University.[5] She was the first Taiwanese to win a World Organization for Animal Health award.[6]

The giant river prawn is widely cultivated in Taiwan. In 2012 Taiwan produced 3% of world production.[7]

Grouper

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In 1975 Taiwan began ocean ranching of grouper. Ocean ranching of grouper involves growing wild caught individuals to market size.[8]

In 1995 Long Diann Bio Technology Co. Ltd. with the help of the Eastern Marine Biology Research Center successfully developed hatchery techniques for giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus). Other species cultured are the Malabar grouper, the orange-spotted grouper, the brown-marbled grouper, the potato grouper, and the leopard coral grouper. In the 2000s Taiwan emerged as a global leader in grouper farming. In 2007 the 89 grouper farmers on Taiwan utilized 1,554.31 hectares of land and produced 17,234 tons of grouper valued at NT$3.88 billion (US$117.68 million). Grouper are shipped live on specially built vessels to Hong Kong and mainland China.[9]

Milkfish

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Milkfish is one of Taiwan's most commercially important fish, yearly production is 50,000 tons of milkfish valued at $4.1 billion New Taiwan Dollars. Consumption and ranching of milkfish in Taiwan dates back hundreds of years.[10] Milkfish is primarily consumed with congee, pan-fried, as fish ball soup, or braised.[11] Milkfish soup (Shimu Yu) is a southern Taiwanese speciality.[12] Tainan is the center of milkfish production raising half of the country’s total production.[13]

In recent years Taiwanese farms have begun raising organic milkfish.[14] Some milkfish is exported, primarily to the United States and the Middle East.[13]

In the 1990s the primary export market for eels was Japan. Taiwanese business also heavily invested in eel production in Southeast Asia.[15] Taiwan's dominance in the eel market ended as production expanded in neighboring countries.[16]

Exports of adult eels to Japan have decreased, the export of baby eels bred in Taiwan has increased in absolute terms but has decreased relative to other nations.[17]

Ornamentals

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The Taiwanese ornamental fish and shrimp industry is significant with more than 250 commercial operations, ~200 of them with operations in Pingtung County. Taiwan was once known as the “cichlid kingdom” for its specialization in cichlids, a fad which culminated in the breeding of the blood parrot cichlid in 1986.[18] The fields of biotechnology and applied ecology are playing an ever increasing role in the Taiwanese aquarium sector.[19]

National Pingtung University of Science and Technology offers one of the world's only graduate programs focussing on aquarium fish.[20]

Events

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The Aquaculture Taiwan Expo & Forum is the primary aquaculture trade show in Taiwan, it is held concurrently with the Livestock Taiwan Expo & Forum and the Asia Agri-Tech Expo & Forum.[21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Chung-LingChen, Guo-HaoQiu and (September 2014). "The long and bumpy journey: Taiwan׳s aquaculture development and management". Marine Policy. 48: 152–161. doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2014.03.026.
  2. ^ Wei-Cheng Su, Mao-Sen Su and. "The Status and Prospects of Coastal Aquaculture in Taiwan". www.fftc.agnet.org. AGNET. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  3. ^ Arab, Paula. "Taiwan harvests the seas with innovative aquaculture technology". seawestnews.com. Sea West News. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Taiwan/Japan Medal for "Father of Shrimp Farming"". Shrimp News International. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  5. ^ Sz-ruei, Yang; Kao, Evelyn. "Taiwanese researcher sets milestone in winning OIE award". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  6. ^ Staff Writer (25 March 2020). "Shrimp researcher first Taiwanese to win OIE award". taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  7. ^ Yan, Gregg; van Beijnen, Jonah. "Giant river prawns: a fresh approach for global shrimp farming?". thefishsite.com. The Fish Site. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  8. ^ van Beijnen, Jonah; Yan, Gregg. "Super grouper: advances in RAS production in Asia". thefishsite.com. The Fish Sight. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  9. ^ Chang, Meg (31 July 2009). "Groupers help boost nation's aquaculture industry". taiwantoday.tw. Taiwan Today. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  10. ^ Staff Reporter (14 August 2019). "Visitors to Taiwan invited to sample island's milkfish". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  11. ^ Hiufu Wong, Maggie. "40 of the best Taiwanese foods and drinks". edition.cnn.com. CNN. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  12. ^ Wei, Clarissa. "Gallery: 25 Things You Must Eat in Tainan, the Culinary Center of Taiwan". www.seriouseats.com. Serious Eats. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  13. ^ a b Tzu-ti, Huang (20 October 2021). "Premium milkfish from southern Taiwan reaches US market". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  14. ^ Liang, Yuan-ling (25 May 2016). "Tainan Milkfish Farmer Paves the Way for Sustainable Aquaculture". international.thenewslens.com. The News Lens. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  15. ^ Jung, Tang. "An Eel Kingdom in the Jungles of Malaysia". taiwan-panorama.com/. Taiwan Panorama. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  16. ^ chang, Meg. "Appetite for eel sees local industry stage fightback". taiwantoday.tw. Taiwan Today. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  17. ^ Tsung-hsun, Tsai; Madjar, Kayleigh. "Eel production lags behind competitors". taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  18. ^ Su, Lynn. "Age of Aquariums". www.taiwan-panorama.com. Taiwan Panorama. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  19. ^ Chang, Meg (2011-11-27). "Biotech innovation keeps Taiwan's aquarium fish sector bubbling". taiwantoday.tw. Taiwan Today. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  20. ^ IHARA, KENSAKU. "A Taiwanese university is boosting its position as an aquarium fish powerhouse". asia.nikkei.com. Nikkei. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  21. ^ "Small Investment Bringing Great Results: Aquaculture Taiwan Expo & Forum to Return Taipei World Trade Center on July 26". aquaculturemag.com. Aquaculture Magazine. Retrieved 3 April 2020.