Aquaculture and Sustainability through Integrated Resources Management

Aquaculture can improve the sustainability of small-scale farms provided that it is fully integrated with other enterprises and household activities so as to allow farm families and communities to manage their natural resources effectively. This requires consideration of pond management and fish husbandry as a means to a variety of ends (water storage, soil conservation and fertility, pest management etc.), not just the production of fish. This paper discusses the evolution of this type of integrated resources management approach, principally with reference to ICLARM's Inland Aquatic Resources Systems Programme. It gives examples of relevant activities in tropical developing countries (Bangladesh, Ghana, Philippines), research methods and future challenges.