The total global supply of farmed fish, shrimp, shellfish and other aquatic animals has exceeded wild catches from global waters for the first time, the United Nations said Friday.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in its latest report on fisheries and aquaculture (or aquatic agriculture), says that in 2022, the latest year for which statistics are available, more than 185 million tons of aquatic animals were taken from global catch and harvest.
Experts say the milestone was expected as fisheries have largely stagnated over the past three decades, largely due to natural limitations.
Manuel Baranghe, who heads FAO’s fisheries and aquaculture division, said aquaculture has benefited from growing recognition of nutritional benefits – such as omega-3s and other micronutrients found in aquatic animal foods – and a lower environmental impact than derived food. from terrestrial animals.
The total number of aquatic animals caught in the wild fell from 91.6 million tonnes in 2021 to 91 million tonnes the following year, FAO said in its latest State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture report.
Global production rose to 94.4 million in 2022 from 91.1 million a year earlier, it said.
Asia is the source of more than 90% of all aquatic animal production in aquaculture, FAO added.
About 90% of aquatic animals that are farmed or caught are used as human food, with the rest going to other uses, such as animal feed or fish oil.
The most common fish species caught in the world’s oceans, seas, rivers, lakes and ponds include Peruvian anchovies, tuna and Alaskan pollock, while freshwater carp, oysters, clams, shrimp, tilapia and prawns are among the most commonly caught animals.