World fisheries and aquaculture production has hit a new high, with aquaculture production of aquatic animals surpassing capture fisheries for the first time, according to a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) released today.
The 2024 edition of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) said global fisheries and aquaculture production in 2022 surged to 223.2 million tonnes, a 4.4 percent increase from the year 2020. Production comprised 185.4 million tonnes of aquatic animals and 37.8 million tonnes of algae.
“FAO welcomes the significant achievements thus far, but further transformative and adaptive actions are needed to strengthen the efficiency, inclusiveness, resilience and sustainability of aquatic food systems and consolidate their role in addressing food insecurity, poverty alleviation and sustainable governance,” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu. “That’s why FAO advocates Blue Transformation, to meet the overall requirements of better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.”
The SOFIA report was formally launched at the High-level event on ocean action “Immersed in Change” in Costa Rica.
Key findings
In 2022 and for the first time in history, aquaculture surpassed capture fisheries as the main producer of aquatic animals. Global aquaculture production reached an unprecedented 130.9 million tonnes, of which 94.4 million tonnes are aquatic animals, 51 percent of the total aquatic animal production.
Global consumption of aquatic foods is rising, underlining the sector’s potential to address food insecurity and malnutrition. In 2021, global consumption of aquatic animal foods reached 162.5 million tonnes, nearly doubling the world population growth rate since 1961. Per capita consumption increased from 9.1 kg in 1961 to 20.7 kg in 2022, with 89 percent of production used for direct human consumption. Aquatic foods provide high-quality proteins and essential nutrients, supplying at least 20 percent of the per capita protein from all animal sources to 3.2 billion people.
Capture fisheries have maintained stable production since the late 1980s, producing 92.3 million tonnes in 2022. However, the proportion of sustainable marine stocks decreased to 62.3 percent in 2021, highlighting the need for effective fisheries management. The FAO projects that aquatic animal production will increase by 10 percent by 2032, reaching 205 million tonnes due to aquaculture expansion and capture fisheries recovery. Apparent consumption is expected to rise by 12 percent, averaging 21.3 kg per capita in 2032, driven by rising incomes, urbanization, and improvements in post-harvest practices.
Employment in fisheries and aquaculture decreased slightly, with 61.8 million people employed in 2022, down from 62.8 million in 2020. Women make up 24 percent of the workforce, but 62 percent in processing, facing gender inequality issues like wage differences and lack of recognition.
The FAO’s 2024 SOFIA report highlights the need for sustainable aquaculture expansion, effective fisheries management, and equitable value chains to enhance the role of aquatic foods in combating hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. The report underscores the importance of Blue Transformation actions to achieve these goals.