Organic Aquaculture in Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia
As the world’s wild fish stocks decline, the need for aquaculture is rising. Under the CFC/FAO Organic Aquaculture Project, INFOFISH is helping fish farmers in the Asia-Pacific region to adapt to the new market niche for organic aquaculture products.
Four shrimp farms in Thailand, one in Myanmar, and a freshwater fish farm in Malaysia have learned to produce, package, certify and market high quality organic black tiger shrimp and tilapia.
The 3-year Project (2007-2010) began with market studies to determine which organic products might sell well in global and regional markets. Based on these findings, INFOFISH experts began to transfer technology: working with the farmers to adapt their operations and products to established organic standards.
Trial marketing of the certified, processed, packaged and
Practical lessons learned in the production, certification and marketing of these pilot project farms have been published and disseminated through information workshops in nine countries in the Asia-Pacific to enhance the sustainable development of small- and medium-scale aquaculture sectors.
Market studies revealed some interesting trends and possibilities for organic products. In recent years, the growth rate of organic and demonstrably “green” fish is higher in the Asian market than in the global market. However until 2009, no organic shrimp or other indigenous fish were available in the Asian market. In fact, the only organic fish options for consumers were imported salmon and cod.
Today, many organic indigenous fish are available and selling well: high quality black tiger shrimp (P. monodon), freshwater prawns (Machrobrachium rosenburgii), tilapia, pangasius catfish and more. In China, organic fish products are no longer filling a mere niche market, and in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and beyond, organic production is growing.
At the outset of the project, the potential markets were thought to be Japan and Europe. However, national and regional markets in Asia outside of Japan were more interested and willing to pay premium prices for these high quality, organic products.
Japan has long been a large importer and consumer of fish products. Although Japanese consumers mostly prefer indigenous fish, imported organic shrimp are in demand. In the US, 70% of consumers regularly buy organic products and in Europe the number of organic consumers is increasing as well.
Although the current size of the market for organic fish products is limited, the potential is significant. It will likely grow as wild stocks stabilize and fish prices rise. In the Asia-Pacific in particular, the shift to organic methods and products is possible and promising – indeed, as this project has initiated and demonstrated it is already taking off.
Organic Fish Products chosen for development were based on market studies as well as the fish farmers’ capacity and experience. They included whole/cleaned/scale-less butterfly-cut tilapia, pangasius steaks and filets, head-on, poly-wrapped freshwater prawn. Organic sea bass, black tiger shrimp, mud crab and silver carp are now eaten in restaurants in Japan, Bangkok and elsewhere.
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Technology transfer required at fish farms to make these products involves practical, hands-on restructuring of the facilities as well as the actual practices that go into raising, 
harvesting and processing shrimp and fish. To obtain organic certification, the farms had to create new flushing or filter systems for their pools to achieve certain levels of water purity, and to maintain and verifiably measure those levels.
Trial marketing for organic products has proven effective, as has the promotion of organic shrimp. Beneficiary companies have participated in trade fairs in tandem with certified organic products and market promotion. Results were concrete: contracts and sales were established and further enhanced by continuous monitoring of exports and organic aquaculture products activities were initiated in the region.
Price negotiations between producers and prospective buyers have led directly to the establishment of the niche markets for organic products. As part of the project, organic products have been successfully marketed in domestic (supermarkets, restaurants, retail chains, high-end hotels), regional (Malaysia, Singapore, etc.) and international markets (EU, Japan).
Investment promotion is a vital aspect of the project, as all of the beneficiary companies required upgrades to their facilities and operations. Cost-benefit analyses and feasibility studies demonstrated that the investments would be worthwhile and experience since has confirmed these projections. Further feasibility studies will likely bear out what appropriate future expansion and economies of scale should be developed.. Especiallyas the regional and international markets grow, the farms and their production capacities will need to increase to match this market demand.
Information dissemination 
is a key component of the
Marketing efforts have been supported by regular buyer-seller meetings, international fish expositions, and the project’s website www.organicfishery.net. Thus, organic aquaculture is gaining popularity in these regions. As a result, other member countries of INFOFISH are seeking guidance and technical know-how for establishment of organic farming including the development of national organic standards.
Potential for organic aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific region and the world is promising. Although half the world’s food fish now comes from aquaculture, only 0.1 to 0.2 percent is certified organic aquaculture. However,stagnant natural fish stocks, combined with rising demand for organic fish products, is changing the perception of consumers.
In addition, quality and safety concerns for food products, and the environment, including space and water constraints, as well as the need for sustainable production cycles – all point to the need for the vigorous ecosystem-based development of organic aquaculture. This project, based on sustainable practices and stakeholder involvement, has made a promising start.
Project documents:
Powerpoint presentation: TILAPIA IN CFC/FAO/INFOFISH “ORGANIC” AQUACULTURE PROJECT
Article from the INFOFISH Magazine: The CFC organic aquaculture project – promoting an Asian organic seafood generation
