Aquaculture is playing an increasingly important role in meeting the world’s food needs, overtaking wild fisheries in aquatic animal production for the first time, according to a report published on Friday.
As global demand for aquatic food is expected to continue to grow, increasing sustainable production is critical to ensuring a healthy diet, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations said.
In 2022, aquaculture yielded 94.4 million tons of aquatic animal production — 51 percent of the total and 57 percent of production intended for human consumption, it said.
“Aquatic systems are increasingly recognized as vital to food and nutrition security,” according to the report, released as experts gathered in Costa Rica for talks on ocean conservation.
“Due to their great diversity and ability to provide ecosystem services and sustain healthy diets, aquatic food systems represent a sustainable and efficient solution that offers greater opportunities to improve global food security and nutrition,” he added.
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While wild fishery production has remained largely unchanged for decades, aquaculture has grown by 6.6 percent since 2020, the report notes.
The sustainability of wild fishery resources remains a cause for concern, he added.
“Urgent action is needed to accelerate the conservation and rebuilding of fish stocks.”
With the world’s population projected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030, “providing adequate food, nutrition and livelihoods for this growing population requires significant investment,” he added.
“Aquaculture has an important role to play, particularly in Africa where its great potential is still untapped.”
According to the report, aquatic products remain one of the most traded food products, generating a record $195 billion in 2022 — a 19 percent increase from pre-pandemic levels.
“Despite these significant achievements, the sector still faces major challenges from climate change and disasters, water scarcity, pollution, loss of biodiversity” and other human-made impacts, he added.
Source: AFP