Global fisheries and aquaculture production reaches new highs
Trade in aquatic animal products continues to hit record highs and now rivals terrestrial meat trade in value. Ensuring sustainable and equitable growth of marine and inland ecosystems, however, remains a key challenge. This is pointed out in the latest State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture report (SOFIA 2026) published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) at the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya, in mid-June.
The report presents updated global fisheries and aquaculture statistics and provides information and insights on challenges, opportunities and solutions shaping the present and future of the sector.
SOFIA 2026 estimates that global fisheries and aquaculture production reached a record 235 million tonnes in 2024, 195 million tonnes of which was aquatic animals, confirming the sector’s expanding role in feeding the world.
Aquaculture on the rise, capture fisheries stable
While wild fisheries have largely stabilised, reflecting ecological limits and effective management of some fishery stocks, aquatic animal production has continued to grow, averaging 3.2 per cent annually since the 1950s. In particular, in 2024, aquaculture production of aquatic animals surpassed 100 million tonnes for the first time (valued at 371 billion US dollars at farm gate). Capture fisheries reached about 92 million tonnes and have remained within the 86–94 million tonnes range since the late 1980s.
Important protein source, but unevenly distributed
Aquatic animal foods are increasingly central to diets, with 89 per cent of production of aquatic animals going to human consumption, supplying at least one-fifth of the animal protein consumption of 3.1 billion people. The sector also supports more than 600 million livelihoods world-wide.
Despite rising availability, benefits remain uneven. Per capita aquatic animal food supply, particularly in Africa, lags well below the global average, underscoring the need for targeted policies.
A sector under pressure
At the same time, the sector faces growing pressures. Climate change, environmental degradation, economic shocks and geopolitical shifts are affecting performance and sustainability. For example, under high emissions scenarios, exploitable fish biomass is projected to decline by over 10 per cent by 2050 in several regions. The report examines how these pressures will shape the sector, alongside advances in adaptation and mitigation to climate change.
“The report illustrates that, more than ever before, a healthy planet requires a healthy ocean and healthy inland waters,” FAO Director-General QU Dongyu wrote in its Foreword. “We need to ensure that all necessary efforts are made to reverse the decline in sustainability and secure the long-term potential of the sector, for generations to come.”
Trade implications and regional breakdown
In 2023, the availability of aquatic animal foods reached 171 million tonnes, but its distribution remains uneven. While in Asia the sector provides 26.3 kg per person, the availability in Africa is only 9.1 kg of aquatic animal foods per individual.
Trade in aquatic products has expanded significantly. Between 1976 and 2024, export value rose more than twenty-three-fold (nearly six-fold in real terms), in line with global trade in goods. Growth reflects higher production, improved logistics and processing, competitive pricing and trade liberalisation, with products often crossing multiple borders before reaching consumers as part of complex supply chains, the authors of the report explain.
The FAO projects continued growth in production, consumption and trade, with total aquatic animal production expected to reach 214 million tonnes by 2034.
Key facts and figures
- Aquaculture aquatic animal production topped 100 million tonnes for the first time in 2024, reaching 103 million tonnes
- Aquaculture now provides 53 per cent of total aquatic animal production and over 59 per cent of aquatic animal food output
- Including algae, aquaculture produced 141 million tonnes valued at 391 billion US dollars
- Since the late 1980s, nearly all growth in aquatic production has come from aquaculture
- Wild fisheries have plateaued; capture output of aquatic animals reached 92 million tonnes in 2024, including 80 million tonnes from marine fisheries
- In 2023, 72.6 per cent of all landings originated from biologically sustainable stocks
- Tuna catches reached a record 9.3 million tonnes in 2024
- Anchoveta catches rebounded strongly in 2024, rising by 109 per cent to over 5.0 million tonnes from 2.4 million tonnes in 2023
- Inland fisheries reached a record 12.3 million tonnes in 2024
- At 184 billion US dollars, aquatic animal trade now rivals terrestrial meat trade; over one-third of production is traded internationally
- Global per capita availability of aquatic animal food averaged 21.1 kg in 2023, rising to an estimated 21.3 kg in 2024
- The sector supports over 600 million livelihoods world-wide
Blue Transformation
To improve sustainability, productivity and inclusiveness in the sector, FAO works with Members and partners through its Blue Transformation Roadmap 2022–2030. In aquaculture, science-based governance, spatial planning and innovation, including climate-smart and integrated systems such as rice-fish farming, trout production and models combining aquaculture with renewable energy, are promoted.
In capture fisheries, the organisation supports stronger governance, better data and enhanced monitoring and surveillance. It works with regional fishery bodies to manage shared stocks and combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, while helping countries implement the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries.
(FAO/sri)
More information:
Blue Transformation Roadmap 2022–2030
Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries
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