Aquaculture has emerged as the primary source of fish production worldwide, surpassing traditional fishing methods for the first time. According to the latest biennial report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global fisheries and aquaculture production reached a record 223.2 million tonnes in 2022. Aquaculture alone accounted for an unprecedented 130.9 million tonnes, highlighting its critical role in global food security.
Countries such as China, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, among others, dominate aquaculture production, collectively contributing nearly 90% of the total output. Aquaculture, also known as aquafarming, involves cultivating fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and aquatic plants in controlled environments, ensuring sustainable production to meet the growing demand for protein-rich aquatic foods.
FAO Assistant Director General Manuel Barange emphasized that aquaculture has been the fastest-growing food production system globally over the past five decades. He highlighted its potential to feed a burgeoning world population, with aquatic animals alone constituting 51% of the total production in 2022.
While acknowledging concerns about environmental impact and biosecurity risks associated with aquafarming, FAO underscores the importance of stringent regulation and monitoring to mitigate these challenges effectively. Proper management practices can prevent the introduction of diseases and invasive species into natural ecosystems.
The global per capita consumption of aquatic animal foods has risen significantly, reaching 20.7 kg in 2022 from 9.1 kg in 1961, underscoring the increasing reliance on aquaculture to meet dietary protein needs. Despite stable catches from traditional fisheries since the late 1980s, FAO reports a worrisome trend with 37.7% of fish stocks in the world’s marine fisheries classified as overfished in 2021.
Barange highlighted ongoing efforts to improve sustainability, noting substantial progress in managing commercial fisheries like tuna, which now approach 90% sustainable levels. He emphasized FAO’s commitment to sustainable fisheries management to ensure long-term environmental and food security benefits.