ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPORTANCE OF THE AQUATIC SECTOR IN MÉXICO

Abstract

Aquaculture is the primary production sector of highest growth of the whole economy, with 7 % annually in the last 10 years, exceeding agricultural, livestock and forestry production, and is presented as a solution to the national and global needs for food, prime materials and bioenergetics. México has the natural resources, productive infrastructure, human capital and market for the development of this activity. Because aquaculture is carried out in a great diversity of sizes and technologies, it presents high socioeconomic impact, such as the creation of rural jobs, demand of prime materials, inputs, food production for auto-consumption and for regional, national and international sale; however, in order to
improve the aquaculture sector, the country needs to address certain areas of opportunity in the activity, which are reviewed in this study.