ITALY – Aquaculture production of aquatic animals has outstripped capture fisheries for the first time, according to a newly released report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The report, titled “The 2024 edition of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA),” highlights that global fisheries and aquaculture production soared to 223.2 million tonnes in 2022, marking a 4.4 percent increase since 2020.
The report reveals that aquaculture now dominates as the primary source of aquatic animal products, a pivotal shift underscored by the sustainability benefits this change brings.
Manuel Barange, the director of FAO’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, emphasized the positive environmental impact of this transition.
Dominating the aquaculture landscape, ten countries—China, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Norway, Egypt, and Chile—contribute to over 89.8 percent of global aquaculture output.
This geographic concentration underscores the strategic role these nations play in meeting the world’s seafood demand.
The SOFIA report also highlights a significant rise in global consumption of aquatic animal foods, which hit 162.5 million tonnes in 2021.
Furthermore, annual per capita consumption surged from 9.1 kg in 1961 to 20.7 kg in 2022.
Aquatic foods, rich in high-quality proteins, provided at least 20 percent of the per capita protein supply from all animal sources to 3.2 billion people in 2021, reinforcing their critical role in global nutrition.
Barange underscored the dual benefits of aquaculture in combating hunger and poverty while sustainably utilizing natural resources.
Despite the remarkable growth in aquaculture, capture fisheries continue to be a crucial component of aquatic animal production.
Looking ahead, the FAO anticipates a 10 percent increase in aquatic animal production by 2032, reaching 205 million tonnes, propelled by further expansion in aquaculture and a resurgence in capture fisheries.
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