Demand for fish in South and Southeast Asia is expected to escalate by about 5 million tonnes by the year 2000. Production from capture fisheries is static or declining, and production increases will need to come from aquaculture.

Global aquaculture production has increased by about 50% from 1986 yields to an estimated 18.2 million tonnes in 1992 with about 80% of this production in Asia. One of the main constraints on increasing aquaculture production, is the development of cost-effective feeds and feeding strategies.

The protein source of choice for most fish and crustaceans is fishmeal or 'trash fish' (small fish forming the low-value component of commercial catches). However, supplies are declining and prices are increasing. There is also an increasing conflict between use of trash fish/fishmeal for aquaculture, or for human consumption (particularly for low-income indigenous people). The replacement of fishmeal in aquaculture diets is a major international research priority.