Aquaculture species diversification in China.

China has been the top aquaculture producer in the world since 2002. Over 800 species and 240 improved varieties have been used in China's aquaculture, which is the most diverse collection of species on this planet. Species diversification, along with other aquaculture technologies, contributes significantly to the increase of China's aquaculture production, whereas the use of too many species in aquaculture has resulted in some issues related to the environment and sustainability. We provide an updated overview of the species currently used in Chinese aquaculture in this paper. We examine critically the main drivers of species diversification in China with examples. We also introduce Chinese approaches to improve and certify new species and varieties for commercial production. We believe that further species diversification is not a priority in China's aquaculture, while further improvement of aquaculture technologies for major and native species is essential for green, profitable, and sustainable (GPS) aquaculture. The implications of China's experiences with species diversification for global aquaculture species diversification are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]