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Chinese seafood consumption and implications for the Asia-Pacific

This talk provides an overview of the rising seafood consumption in China, particularly luxury seafood consumption in Beijing, and its implications for source countries. It discusses the data gaps, social drivers, recent policy developments, and the ecological, social, and economic impacts of the live reef food fish trade. The talk concludes with the need for sustainable management and alternative livelihood options in fishing communities.

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Chinese seafood consumption and implications for the Asia-Pacific

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  1. Chinese seafood consumption and implications for the Asia-Pacific Michael Fabinyi Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University and Department of Sociology, Peking University

  2. Leading market for seafood

  3. Implications for source countries • Different economic, ecological and political opportunities and challenges related to the rise of Chinese seafood consumption

  4. Summary of Talk • Overview of Chinese seafood consumption • Luxury seafood consumption in Beijing • Live reef food fish trade in Philippines

  5. Overview of Chinese seafood consumption • Large data gaps: basic statistics, trade flows, consumption patterns, consumer perspectives • Strong incentives for falsification of production data

  6. Overview of Chinese seafood consumption • FAO data refers to ‘food supply’: 26.7kg/person • Government consumption data refers to ‘in-home’ consumption: 10.1kg/person • Despite data limitations, clear that seafood consumption is rising steadily • Key drivers: increased incomes, urbanisation

  7. Overview of Chinese seafood consumption Urban per capita consumption of aquatic products by region Zhou et al 2012: Food consumption trends in China

  8. Overview of Chinese seafood consumption • Three types of seafood imports: • re-processing and re-exporting (e.g. salmon, whitefish) • fishmeal (for aquaculture) • luxury high value (for domestic consumption) • A focus on luxury seafood imports in this talk

  9. Types of luxury seafood

  10. Types of luxury seafood

  11. Types of luxury seafood

  12. Social drivers of luxury seafood consumption • The role of the banquet in modern China • Conspicuous consumption • Southern Chinese cuisine

  13. Recent policy developments • Crack down by Chinese government on corruption • Significant impact on luxury seafood consumption “Look in the mirror, fix your clothes, take a bath, and seek remedies” - Xi Jinping, President of China

  14. Source countries • Live reef fish for food trade (LRFFT) • Highlights issues developing countries face when exporting seafood to China • Estimates of trade worth about $1-2billion, 30,000 tons per year • Exported mostly to China – important component of seafood banquets

  15. LRFFT Commodity Chain Source China Sadovy et al. 2003, While Stocks Last

  16. Figure courtesy Geoffrey Muldoon, WWF Coral Triangle

  17. Ecological impacts of LRFFT • Overfishing • Targeting of spawning aggregations • Use of cyanide • Plate-sized and juvenile fish targeted

  18. Fishers’ perceptions of declines in fish stocks (n = 214)

  19. Social impacts of LRFFT • Health issues • Distribution of financial benefits • Important livelihood

  20. Community level problems and issues in LRFFT fishing communities (n = 431)

  21. Social issues in LRFFT fishing communities Lack of viable alternative livelihoods LRFFT is a rare pathway to improved standard of living Disconnect between household interests and wider-scale interests

  22. Source: NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service

  23. Summing up… Increased Chinese seafood consumption driver of stock declines Fisheries present potential benefits but currently not realised Ongoing policy activities by state, ENGO, market actors

  24. Thank you • ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, JCU, Australia • Prof. Liu Neng, Peking University, China • Prof. Michael Pido, Palawan State University, Philippines michael.fabinyi@jcu.edu.au

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