[Aquaculture in the Netherlands: problems and perspectives].

New interest is being focussed on the more than 100-year-old field of fish culture in the Netherlands. The systems of production available show varying degrees of control of the fish and their environment, and they have a corresponding yield: 0.01-250 kg/m3/year. The recently developed recirculation systems (40-80 kg/m3) make possible the commercial production of luxury species of fish, independently of climatological conditions and having minimum effects on the environment. Some technical aspects of reproduction, housing, nutrition, growth, health control and marketing of the fish require further attention. But the absence of a solid tradition of fish culture is the main problem in the development of fish culture in the Netherlands today. Good fish stockmanship is required at farmers' level. And the organisation and governmental support, that turned agriculture into a highly successful industry, are also essential. For the moment, the most promising commercial prospects are provided by a number of luxury fish species: trout, salmon, eel, sole, turbot, tilapia, catfish, seabass and seabream. A joint effort may help to overcome the remaining technical and logistical uncertainties.