Cross-scale trade-offs and synergies in aquaculture, water quality and environment: research issues and policy implications

Abstract

This paper sets the stage for this Special Issue covering a set of papers, which try to provide a cross-scale evaluation of the trade-offs and synergies evident among aquaculture, water quality and environment in the empirical context of 8 different countries from Asia and Africa. Having discussed the livelihood and policy significance of the issue of cross-scale trade-offs and synergies, this paper provides an eclectic review of literature to show how this issue has been insufficiently treated in past studies. With a brief overview and synthesis of the papers included in this Issue, this paper also indicates how they overcome the analytical, methodological, and data challenges so as to provide a cross-scale evaluation of the trade-offs and synergies in different empirical settings. After illustrating how the new research insights can be integrated into the public debates and policy processes, this paper concludes with the identification of future research and policy needs.

Modelling water-level options for ecosystem services and assessment of climate change: Loktak Lake, northeast India

“…The activities of government agencies involved in different aspects of environmental management, which include the NHPC, the Forest, Irrigation and Flood Control, and Fisheries departments of State Government, have historically been largely uncoordinated (Singh 2010). Such sectoral management, in which the demands for hydropower have dominated, typically result in useand user-conflicts; conflicting policies and resource degradation have been identified in many similar situations (Gichuki et al 2009, Prato 2009). The demonstration that water levels do not have to be as high as they currently are in order to maximize hydropower generation, illustrates the sub-optimal use of resources that typifies sectoral management.…”

“…This process frequently occurs when particular goods and services provided by a wetland, or elsewhere within its catchment, are favoured over others. In many cases, this results in the provision of the favoured services being increased at the expense of others (Gichuki et al 2009). The implications for other ecosystem services, or the integrity of the overall ecosystem, have frequently been overlooked (e.g.…”

Emerging risks of non‐native species escapes from aquaculture: Call for policy improvements in China and other developing countries

“…Myanmar provides a good example for megadiverse developing countries. We recognize that intensive aquaculture, whether with local/regional species or with NAS, can create environmental problems, but these problems can be solved by proper management (Gichuki, Kodituwakku, Nguyen-Khoa, & Hoanh, 2009). Regarding China, there are >100 local/regional fish species with high economic value, but only about 10 species are commonly used for aquaculture (Lou, 2000).…”

Managing water and agroecosystems for food security

“…It is critical to maintain a balance between fi sheries -often the most obvious benefi t derived from aquatic ecosystems -and the continued provision of stocks and fl ows of other ecosystem services, as these may actually benefi t more people and make a more signifi cant contribution to the well-being and resilience of poor women and men, marginal groups, local communities or regional populations (Welcomme et al, 2010). Moreover, assessment and allocation of water resources must also account for environmental water requirements (Gichuki et al, 2009).…”