The Social Relations of Aquaculture Development in South and Southeast Asia

Aquaculture is equated with the reduction of poverty in discourse advanced by intergovernmental agencies such as FAO. This discourse demands support for the promotion small-scale aquaculture through project-based interventions. There is a lack of convincing empirical evidence to support the efficacy of development interventions of this type however. Meanwhile, huge increases in cultured freshwater fish production have occurred throughout Asia despite limited direct donor or state support, creating far larger economic impacts than aquaculture development initiatives targeting poverty reduction. The impact of commercial aquaculture development with respect to poverty also remains ambiguous however. This paper critically evaluates the developmental impacts of both immanent and interventionist forms of aquaculture and advances finely nuanced interpretations of both.