(San José) Aquaculture production exceeded fisheries production for the first time in 2022, with 51% of the global total, according to a report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Agency (FAO) published Friday in Costa Rica at a conference on ocean conservation.
Fish farming, shellfish farming and seaweed farming represent “51% of the world total” and “provide 57% of aquatic animal products used for human consumption in the world”, according to this report on the “global situation of fisheries and aquaculture”.
“While capture fisheries production has remained virtually unchanged for decades, aquaculture has increased by 6.6% since 2020,” notes FAO Director General Qu Dongyu in this report published in Costa Rica.
International experts participate on Friday and Saturday in the capital San José in the “Immersed in change” meeting in preparation for the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3), co-organized by France and Costa Rica in June 2025 in Nice.
The meeting constitutes a “space for the exchange of good practices and successful experiences on issues related to ocean health,” according to Costa Rica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arnoldo André.
Participants will discuss issues of governance, global warming, fisheries and marine biodiversity to help with decision-making at the Nice conference next year.
The FAO report reveals that global trade in aquatic animals reached a record level in 2022, with 195 billion dollars, an increase of 19% compared to 2019, before the pandemic, underlines the FAO.
At least 230 countries and territories participate in this international trade, of which China ranks first in terms of exports (12%), followed by Norway (8%) and Vietnam (6%). These three countries together represent a quarter of exports.
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The European Union is the main destination for this production, but at the country level, the United States leads with 17% of demand, followed by China (12%).
The FAO highlights that 89% of global aquatic animal production is intended for human consumption. Over the past 60 years, consumption of aquatic animals has increased from 9.1 to 20.7 kg per person.
“Aquatic systems are increasingly recognized as vital for food and nutritional security,” notes the FAO Director General.
Fifteen percent of the world’s animal protein supply comes from aquatic animals, and this proportion reaches more than 50% in some countries in Africa and Asia.
With global population growth forecast to reach 8.5 billion people by 2030, “providing sufficient food, nutrition and livelihoods” requires “significant investments”, said Qu Dongyu, emphasizing the importance of aquaculture in this regard.
“Biologically sustainable” fish stocks continue to decline, to 62.3% in 2021.
The FAO therefore proposes three objectives: sustainable growth of aquaculture to meet growing demand, effective management of fisheries for healthy fish stocks, and guaranteeing the sustainability of all stages of the production of aquatic products.
The UN agency estimates that aquatic animal production will increase by 10% by 2032, mainly due to the expansion of aquaculture and the rebuilding of fishing stocks. More than 90% will be intended for human consumption, or 21.3 kg per person.
Essential for food security, fishing and aquaculture also have decisive economic importance. The sector employs some 61.8 million people worldwide, according to the UN agency.