Feeding 1 in 6. Small mighty fish farms

About this episode

This episode explores the evolution of China's fishing sector and the environmental consequences of its rapid growth.

In the 1980s, Deng Xiaoping's government decided not to regulate its fishing sector. What grew out of that space was extraordinary. Today China produces 76 million tonnes of seafood a year, and a mounting environmental cost. This episode follows the small farms and the global infrastructure that connects them, and asks what happens when a government tries to course correct a system it deliberately set loose. For more info, transcript and resources, visit: https://tabledebates.org/podcast/ epi...

Topics covered

• fishing industry
• aquaculture
• environmental impact
• government regulation
• seafood production

Keywords

• China
• seafood
• fishing
• environment
• aquaculture
• Deng Xiaoping
• small farms

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Deng Xiaoping

Places: China

More episodes of Feed: a food systems podcast

• Feeding 1 in 6. Who grows the rice · June 3, 2026 · 44 min
• Feeding 1 in 6. Vertical pork · May 28, 2026 · 59 min
• Feeding 1 in 6. Can you feed the people? · May 21, 2026 · 38 min
• Feeding 1 in 6. China and the future of food (Trailer) · May 13, 2026 · 1 min
• US Soy Farmer on “I can only control the things I can control” · April 2, 2026 · 34 min
• Volts: Can fake meat solve climate change? · March 5, 2026 · 1h 30m