Long-term trends in the economic viability of pond aquaculture in Central Europe - The example of Czechia

In Czechia, aquaculture is one of the smallest sectors in terms of employment and added value. However, it is of considerable importance, primarily because of the ecosystem services it provides and the beneficial effects of consuming fish products on human health. This paper aims to assess the economic viability of Czech aquaculture, specifically by evaluating the development of employment, production, and labour productivity in the aquaculture sector from 1993 to the present, in comparison with agriculture and the overall economy. The production of Czech aquaculture depends on the production of common carp in ponds and the conditions for its monetisation. A fundamental factor is the price of common carp, which has remained almost constant over the last two decades. The consequence of this is stagnating production, with labour productivity lagging behind other sectors. Aquaculture companies are not competitive in the labour market and must contend with the outflow of qualified workers. Current trends could lead to the liquidation of aquaculture companies and the deterioration of production ponds, with all the negative implications that this entails.