The contribution of the fisheries and aquaculture sector to food security and livelihoods is significant, providing millions of people with food, nutrition, income and employment, while supporting economic development through harvesting, processing and marketing. A number of countries, including many developing countries and small island developing states (SIDS), are especially dependent on the sector, which can be particularly crucial for the population of numerous coastal, riverine, insular and inland regions. Major differences exist among countries and regions and this Chapter offers an insight of key trends in the fisheries and aquaculture sector presented by world and continents.
Total fisheries and aquaculture production reached a record of 214 million tonnes in 2020, comprising 178 million tonnes of aquatic animals and 36 million tonnes of algae. This represents a slight increase compared to 2019, which is largely due to the growth of aquaculture, particularly in Asia. Asia accounted for almost 70 percent of the world production of aquatic animals, followed by the Americas (12 percent), Europe (10 percent), Africa (7 percent) and Oceania (1 percent). Overall capture fisheries, with 90.3 million tonnes, represented 51 percent of the total production of aquatic animals, while aquaculture, with 87.5 million tonnes, accounted for 49 percent. Yet, the share of aquaculture in total production differed across continents, going from over 62 percent in Asia, to 20 percent in Americas, 19 percent in Europe and Africa and 13 percent in Oceania. If algae are included, the share of aquaculture in total production reached 57 percent.
China, India and Indonesia were the three major aquaculture producers in 2020 and accounted for more than 70 percent of the total aquaculture production of aquatic animals. Conversely, China, Indonesia and Peru were the three major capture producers in 2020, but accounted for less than 30 percent of total capture production of aquatic animals, highlighting how capture production is less concentrated than aquaculture production.
The international trade of fisheries and aquaculture products, excluding algae, generated USD 151 billion in 2020, down from the record high of USD 165 billion in 2018 mainly due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The United States of America, China and Japan were the three major importers in 2020 and accounted for 34 percent of all imports’ value. On the other hand, China, Norway and Viet Nam were the three major exporters in 2020 and accounted for 25 percent of all exports’ value.
The amount of aquatic animals destined for human consumption was 20.5 kg per capita in 2019, more than double the average of 9.9 kg per capita in the 1960s. This annual apparent consumption consisted for almost 40 percent of freshwater and diadromous fish, and for an additional 34 percent of other fish. The rest consisted of molluscs, crustaceans and other aquatic animals.
The size of the global fishing fleet was estimated at 4.1 million vessels in 2020. Of these, about 2.5 million (62 percent) were motorized, while the remaining 1.6 million were not fitted with an engine. The majority of the world’s vessels were in Asia (65 percent), followed by Africa (23 percent) and the Americas (9 percent). Almost 59 million people were estimated to be employed in the primary sector in fisheries and aquaculture. If subsistence and secondary sector workers – together with their dependents – are included, it is estimated that about 600 million livelihoods depend at least partially on fisheries and aquaculture.
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