Accessibility of Aquaculture Products in Thailand

The paper first reviews the aquaculture sector in Thailand and focuses on the development of freshwater fish. The government has promoted freshwater fish culture mainly to supply domestically. The development policies that influence markets and access have been stated. It then highlights fish consumption by region. As a result of increased demand for freshwater fish, marketing plays an increasing vital role and is left in the hand of private sector. Marketing practices including market structure, marketing channel and marketing margins are analyzed and discussed. It is found that the private assembly markets as well as the retail outlets have been developed significantly to serve the increase in both the supply and the demand of cultured freshwater fish. Marketing margin varies among species. Obstacles to market access is not observed apparently. The shift in production centers close to the big consuming center with high purchasing power in the past two decades may benefit some group of consumer. However, the consumer in other regions can access to freshwater fish through the effective and efficient marketing system. The paper concludes with the discussion and analyzes of future domestic market potential in view of existing and evolving consumption pattern and marketing development, and measures required to realize the potential.Key words marketing structure, marketing channel, marketing margi

Analysis of Demand for Fish Consumed at Home in Thailand

This study reviews patterns of consumption and expenditure of fish at home at disaggregate level and analyzes demand for nine different fish species/species group. The analysis is based on the household consumption survey in inland provinces of Thailand conducted during 1998-1999. Result shows that the annual per capita fish consumption was 29 kg. Rural –fish-producers have the highest per capita annual consumption (35 kg) followed by rural non-fish-producers (29 kg) and urban consumers (20 kg). Relatively poorer households consume lesser quantity of fish than the richer households. Moreover, consumers in different regions have different levels of consumption, preferences and levels of purchasing power. On average, fish expenditure accounted for 16 percent of the total household expenditure. A complete demand system was estimated to better understand changes in fish consumption with the changes in prices of fish and household income. The result shows that the uncompensated price, compensated price and income elasticity of demand vary across the different types of fish and across four income classes. Uncompensated own-price elasticities that capture both price effect and income effect are generally high in the high priced fish group. The variations between uncompensated and compensated own-price elasticities are marginal, suggesting that income effect from price changes is small. Income elasticities for all fish types across all income classes are inelastic. However, the low-income groups are more sensitive to income changes than the high-income groups. The study is important for policy planning on further fisheries and aquaculture development, by focusing on particular species and income groups in order to benefit the consumer and society as a whole.Keywords: Thailand, Uncompensated elasticity, Fisheries Economics, compensated elasticity, multi-stage budgeting, Special sessions, income elasticityKeywords: Thailand, Uncompensated elasticity, Fisheries Economics, compensated elasticity, multi-stage budgeting, Special sessions, income elasticit

Fisheries Management Costs in Thai Marine Fisheries

The paper first introduces the fisheries management dilemma faced by many Asian developing countries including Thailand and the key elements of a transition policy towards responsible fisheries. It then analyses current fisheries management costs in Thai marine fisheries. Major cost items include fisheries research (especially stock assessment), monitoring, control and surveillance, the placement of artificial reefs to rehabilitate inshore resources and to act as barrier against bottom trawling, and management administration. It then examines the required adjustments needed for improved management in order to increase the flow of net economic benefits and to reduce conflicts among fishermen using different types of fishing gear. The authors argue that in the Thai situation characterized by significant over-capacities large up-front adjustment costs arise in the transition to an effective fisheries management regime. These include compensation for the withdrawal of excessive fleet capacity, costs of facilitating the shift to alternative employment, and other incremental fisheries management costs. On the example of the Thai demersal fisheries in the Gulf of Thailand, it is shown that these large up-front adjustment costs could be recuperated in the long run through increased fishing licence fees but that the immediate financial needs may pose a heavy burden on the government budget that may justify external financial assistance.Keywords: Thai marine fisheries; management costs; decommissioning; bio-economic analysis

Demand for fish in Asia: a cross-country analysis

Fish demand patterns in nine Asian countries were investigated using a multistage budgeting framework allowing a disaggregated approach to analysing fish consumption. This paper highlights the heterogeneity of fisheries products in terms of species, sources and cultural responses of consumers, factors that are important in fish demand under the Asian setting. Specifically, fish demand by income groups were compared to determine how the low- and high-income households respond to price and income changes. Results showed that the estimated price and income elasticities of all fish types included in the study were relatively more elastic among the poorer households

The development of aquaculture in Central Thailand: Domestic demand versus export-led production

Expansion of aquaculture in Central Thailand since the 1970s is intimately linked to growth in other sectors of the local and national economy, and to participation in global trade. Thailand's agro-industrialization has led to the diversification of agriculture in the Central Region and the co-development of aquaculture. Production of domestic aqua-products is largely positive for consumers, farmers and the environment. By contrast, intensive production of shrimp for export has been characterized by periods of boom and bust resulting from disease outbreaks and international competition. At the farm level this has translated into surges of profit followed by overcapitalization, debt and environmental degradation