Rapid aquaculture expansion in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America offers opportunities to establish welfare standards before poor practices become entrenched.
Aquaculture welfare in rapidly developing economies is a race between industry expansion and welfare standard establishment. When aquaculture industries mature without welfare frameworks, poor practices become entrenched as normal and economically optimized - reform becomes more difficult and costly. Establishing welfare expectations early through regional standards, capacity building, and market incentives is more efficient than attempting wholesale reform of established industries. International development agencies, NGOs, and seafood buyers all have roles in supporting early welfare standard establishment in growing aquaculture economies.