Aquaculture is the fastest growing food-producing sector, accounting almost 50% of the
world food fish demand. Considering the projected population growth over the next two
decades, it is estimated that at least an additional 40 million tonnes of aquatic food will be
required by 2030 to maintain the current per capita consumption (NACA/FAO, 2001).
Marine aquaculture production was 30.2 million tonnes in 2004, representing 50.9% of the
global aquaculture production (FAO, 2004). By major groupings, fish is the top group
whether by quantity or by value at 47.4% and 53.9%, respectively. However, according to
the World Aquaculture Society (WAS, 2006), the future of this sector must be based on the
increase of scientific and technical developments, on sustainable practices, and, mainly, on
the diversification of the cultured fish species. For this reason, the European Union has
designed an innovative plan to increase the culture of new fish and shellfish species, mainly
marine, maintaining the production of other consolidated species (UE, 2010)
