Aquaculture Surpasses Wild Fisheries: Meeting Global Demand for Aquatic Foods and Securing Sustainable Production
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations reported that in 2022, aquaculture surpassed wild fisheries in producing aquatic animal food, accounting for 51% of the total and 57% of the production for human consumption.
With growing demand for aquatic foods, sustainable production is essential to ensure healthy diets and food security.
The report emphasizes the importance of aquatic food systems due to their diversity and ability to provide ecosystem services and sustain healthy diets.
The report was released during ocean conservation talks in Costa Rica.
The president of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chaves, spoke at the Immersed Change Ocean Protection Summit in San Jose on June 7, 2024.
The report presented at the summit noted that wild fisheries production has remained stagnant, while aquaculture has increased by 6.6% since 2020.
However, the sustainability of wild fishery resources is a concern, as only 62.3% of marine stocks were fished sustainably in 2021, a decrease from 2019.
The report urged for urgent action to conserve and rebuild fishery stocks.
With the world's population projected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030, providing food and livelihoods for this growing population requires significant investments.
Aquaculture, particularly in Africa where its potential is not yet fully realized, has a major role to play in meeting this demand, as more than 40% of the world's population cannot afford a healthy diet.
Hervé Berville, France's secretary of state for the sea and biodiversity, spoke at the opening of the Immersed Change Ocean Protection Summit in San Jose on June 7, 2024.
The aquatic products sector reached a record $195 billion in trade in 2022, a 19% increase from pre-pandemic levels.
However, the sector faces challenges from climate change, disasters, water scarcity, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
A report was released at the summit, which also marked the preparation for the third UN Ocean Conference in France in 2025.
United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Social Affairs Li Junhua emphasized that protecting the ocean is not an option but an imperative.
Costa Rica's President Rodrigo Chaves convened a two-day meeting where world leaders discussed the urgent need to address climate change and its impact on the ocean.
Key topics include the ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide, the importance of sustainable fishing, and combating marine pollution to secure a sustainable future for humanity.
The report emphasizes the importance of aquatic food systems due to their diversity and ability to provide ecosystem services and sustain healthy diets.
The report was released during ocean conservation talks in Costa Rica.
The president of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chaves, spoke at the Immersed Change Ocean Protection Summit in San Jose on June 7, 2024.
The report presented at the summit noted that wild fisheries production has remained stagnant, while aquaculture has increased by 6.6% since 2020.
However, the sustainability of wild fishery resources is a concern, as only 62.3% of marine stocks were fished sustainably in 2021, a decrease from 2019.
The report urged for urgent action to conserve and rebuild fishery stocks.
With the world's population projected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030, providing food and livelihoods for this growing population requires significant investments.
Aquaculture, particularly in Africa where its potential is not yet fully realized, has a major role to play in meeting this demand, as more than 40% of the world's population cannot afford a healthy diet.
Hervé Berville, France's secretary of state for the sea and biodiversity, spoke at the opening of the Immersed Change Ocean Protection Summit in San Jose on June 7, 2024.
The aquatic products sector reached a record $195 billion in trade in 2022, a 19% increase from pre-pandemic levels.
However, the sector faces challenges from climate change, disasters, water scarcity, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
A report was released at the summit, which also marked the preparation for the third UN Ocean Conference in France in 2025.
United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Social Affairs Li Junhua emphasized that protecting the ocean is not an option but an imperative.
Costa Rica's President Rodrigo Chaves convened a two-day meeting where world leaders discussed the urgent need to address climate change and its impact on the ocean.
Key topics include the ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide, the importance of sustainable fishing, and combating marine pollution to secure a sustainable future for humanity.
Translation:
Translated by AI
