FAO: Aquaculture Surpasses Traditional Fishery for First Time
According to the UN, fish and seafood farming will grow by 10% by 2032
Aquaculture, i.e. the farming of fish, crustaceans, and molluscs, has exceeded traditional fishery worldwide for the first time. According to a report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Costa Rica, where the International Conference on Ocean Conservation is currently taking place, the overtaking was repeated in 2022 (the latest data available), a year in which “traditional” fishing companies caught 92.3 million tons of fish and seafood, while those specializing in aquaculture caught 130.9 million tons for a total value of 312.8 billion dollars.
Compared to the 2020 results, aquaculture production in 2020 increased by 6.6% in quantity and 12% in monetary terms. “While fisheries have remained largely unchanged for decades, aquaculture in 2022 grew 6.6% from 2020 and 19% from 2019 before the covid pandemic,” said FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu.
China ranks first in terms of global exports (12%), followed by Norway (8%) and Vietnam (6%). The European Union is the main destination for these products, but among individual countries, the USA leads with 17% of demand. It is estimated that aquatic animal production will increase by 10% by 2032.
