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Balancing Growth and Sustainability in China’s Carp Aquaculture: Practices, Policies, and Sustainability Pathways

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  • Yang Song

    (China-ASEAN “The Belt and Road” Joint Laboratory of Mariculture Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
    Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
    Key Laboratory of Integrated Rice-Fish Farming, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China)

  • Wenbo Zhang

    (China-ASEAN “The Belt and Road” Joint Laboratory of Mariculture Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
    Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
    Key Laboratory of Integrated Rice-Fish Farming, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China)

Abstract

China leads global carp aquaculture (farming of species within the family Cyprinidae ), producing 20 million tons annually in a sector shaped by favorable policies, infrastructure, and innovation. Carp farming in China is rooted in millennia of traditional practices and transformative post-1978 economic reforms. This review synthesizes the historical trajectory, technological advancements, policy frameworks, and sustainability challenges shaping China’s carp aquaculture sector. Historically, carp polyculture systems, developed during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE), laid the foundation for resource-efficient practices. Modern intensification, driven by state-led policies, genetic innovations, and feed-based systems, enabled unprecedented growth. However, rapid expansion has exacerbated environmental trade-offs, including nutrient pollution, habitat loss, and antibiotic resistance, while socioeconomic disparities, aging labor forces, and market volatility threaten sectoral resilience. Policy shifts since the 2000s prioritize ecological sustainability, exemplified by effluent regulations, wetland restoration, and green technologies. Despite progress, challenges persist in reconciling economic viability with environmental safeguards. Key success factors include long-term policy support, smallholder capacity building, vertically integrated supply chains, product differentiation, and adaptive management. With balanced policies emphasizing economic, social, and environmental sustainability, carp aquaculture can enhance domestic food and nutrition security. China’s experience showcases the potential of aquaculture to bolster food security but highlights the urgent need to harmonize productivity with ecological and social equity to ensure long-term resilience. Lessons from China’s model offer actionable insights for global aquaculture systems navigating similar sustainability imperatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Yang Song & Wenbo Zhang, 2025. "Balancing Growth and Sustainability in China’s Carp Aquaculture: Practices, Policies, and Sustainability Pathways," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-27, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:12:p:5593-:d:1681423
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