New FAO Report: Seafood commerce soars to report $184bn, however sustainability hole widens
Aquaculture now gives 53 p.c of whole aquatic animal manufacturing and over 59 p.c of aquatic animal meals output. PHOTO/FAO.
By PATRICK MAYOYO
Aquatic animal merchandise have reached a brand new financial peak, with commerce hovering to $184 billion and matching the dimensions of land-based meat markets.
Nevertheless, the Meals and Agriculture organizations of the United Nations FAO’s newest State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture SOFIA 2026 report warns that balancing this booming demand with sustainable and honest ecosystem administration stays a important international problem.
The report launched on Tuesday on the eleventh Our Ocean Convention in Mombasa, Kenya – presents up to date international fisheries and aquaculture statistics. It highlights how FAO, with members, communities, establishments, business and companions, is translating its Blue Transformation imaginative and prescient into measurable outcomes.
SOFIA 2026 estimates international fisheries and aquaculture manufacturing reached a report 235 million tonnes in 2024, of which 195 million tonnes aquatic animals, confirming the sector’s increasing function in feeding the world.
Whereas wild fisheries have largely stabilized, reflecting ecological limits and efficient administration of some fishery shares, aquatic animal manufacturing has continued to develop, averaging 3.2 p.c yearly for the reason that Nineteen Fifties.
Particularly, in 2024 aquaculture manufacturing of aquatic animals surpassed 100 million tonnes for the primary time (valued at $371 billion at farm gate). Seize fisheries reached about 92 million tonnes and have remained inside the 86–94 million tonnes vary for the reason that late Nineteen Eighties.
INFOGRAPHIC/AEN.
Aquatic animal meals are more and more central to diets: 89 p.c of manufacturing of aquatic animals goes to human consumption, supplying a minimum of one-fifth of the animal protein consumption of three.1 billion folks. The sector additionally helps greater than 600 million livelihoods worldwide.
Regardless of rising availability, advantages stay uneven. Per capita aquatic animal meals provide, significantly in Africa, lags effectively beneath the worldwide common, underscoring the necessity for focused insurance policies.
On the similar time, the sector faces rising pressures. Local weather change, environmental degradation, financial shocks and geopolitical shifts are affecting efficiency and sustainability. For instance, beneath excessive emissions eventualities, exploitable fish biomass is projected to say no by over 10 p.c by 2050 in a number of areas.
The report examines how these pressures will form the sector, alongside advances in adaptation and mitigation to local weather change.
“The report illustrates that, greater than ever earlier than, a wholesome planet requires a wholesome ocean and wholesome inland waters,” FAO Director-Normal QU Dongyu wrote in its Foreword. “We have to be certain that all mandatory efforts are made to reverse the decline in sustainability and safe the long-term potential of the sector, for generations to come back.”
In 2023, the supply of aquatic animal meals reached 171 million tonnes, however its distribution stays uneven. Whereas in Asia the sector gives 26.3 kg per particular person, the supply in Africa is just 9.1 kg of aquatic animal meals per particular person.
INFOGRAPHIC/FAO.
Commerce in aquatic merchandise has expanded considerably. Between 1976 and 2024, export worth rose greater than twenty-threefold (practically sixfold in actual phrases), in keeping with international commerce in items. Progress displays larger manufacturing, improved logistics and processing, aggressive pricing and commerce liberalization, with merchandise usually crossing a number of borders earlier than reaching customers as a part of complicated provide chains.
FAO tasks continued progress in manufacturing, consumption and commerce, with whole aquatic animal manufacturing anticipated to succeed in 214 million tonnes by 2034.
FAO works with Members and companions by its Blue Transformation Roadmap 2022-2030 to enhance sustainability, productiveness and inclusiveness. Since its launch in 2021, the initiative has pushed concrete motion worldwide.
In aquaculture, FAO promotes science-based governance, spatial planning and innovation, together with climate-smart and built-in methods similar to rice–fish farming, trout manufacturing and fashions combining aquaculture with renewable vitality.
In seize fisheries, FAO helps stronger governance, higher information and enhanced monitoring and surveillance. It really works with regional fishery our bodies to handle shared shares and fight unlawful, unreported and unregulated fishing, whereas serving to international locations implement the Voluntary Tips for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries.
