2018 2018

2018

IN BRIEF

THE STATE OF
WORLD FISHERIES
AND AQUACULTURE
MEETING THE SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT GOALS
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 T H E S TAT E O F WO RL D FI S H ERI ES A N D AQ UACU LT U RE 2018 IN BRIEF

CONTENTS
This booklet contains the main points of the publication The State of
World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2018. The numbering of the tables
and figures corresponds to this publication.

FOREWORD 4 PART 2
FAO FISHERIES AND
PART 1 AQUACULTURE IN ACTION 19
WORLD REVIEW 7 Combatting illegal, unreported
}} Figure 1 7 and unregulated fishing: global developments 19
Implementation of the Port State Measures Agreement 20
1. Capture fisheries production 8
Global Record of Fishing Vessels, Refrigerated
}} Table 1 8 Transport Vessels 20
2. Aquaculture production 9 Catch documentation schemes 20
}} Figure 5 9
PART 3
3. Fishers and fish farmers 10 HIGHLIGHTS OF ONGOING STUDIES 21
}} Table 11 11
Climate change impacts and responses 21
4. The fishing fleet 11 Assessing climate change impacts for fisheries
5. The status of fishery resources 12 and aquaculture 21

}} Figure 14 12 }} Figure 39 22
Adaptation concepts and tools 23
6. Fish utilization and processing 13
Guiding countries on the integration of fisheries
7. Fish trade and commodities 13 and aquaculture in National Adaptation Plans 23
}} Figure 21 14
PART 4
8. Fish consumption 15 OUTLOOK AND EMERGING ISSUES 24
}} Figure 29 16
Projections of fisheries, aquaculture and markets 24
}} Figure 2 17 Baseline projections 24
9. Governance and policy 17 }} Figure 50 25
}} Figure 32 18 Summary of main outcomes from the projections 26

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FOREWORD

H
uman societies face the enormous challenge of having to provide food and
livelihoods to a population well in excess of 9 billion people by the middle
of the twenty-first century, while addressing the disproportionate
impacts of climate change and environmental degradation on the
resource base. The United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offer a unique,
transformative and integrative approach to shift the world on to a sustainable and
resilient path that leaves no one behind. 

Food and agriculture are key to achieving the entire set of SDGs, and many SDGs are
directly relevant to fisheries and aquaculture, in particular SDG 14 (Conserve and
sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development).
Galvanized by public and political attention, in June 2017 the United Nations convened a
high-level Ocean Conference in New York to support the implementation of SDG 14. This
event was shortly followed by the appointment of Peter Thomson of Fiji as the UN
Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean and the launch of the Communities of
Ocean Action, an initiative to track and build on the over 1 400 voluntary commitments
registered and announced at the Ocean Conference.

The global momentum on SDG implementation has framed much of the international
discourse since the publication of the 2016 edition of The State of World Fisheries and
Aquaculture. I would particularly highlight the specific SDG 14 target of ending illegal,
unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by 2020. On 5 June 2016, the Agreement on
Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated
Fishing (PSMA) entered into force. The first operational version of the Global Record of
Fishing Vessels, Refrigerated Transport Vessels and Supply Vessels (Global Record), a
phased and collaborative global initiative to make available certified vessel data from
State authorities, was launched in 2017. The FAO Voluntary Guidelines on Catch
Documentation Schemes for wild-captured fish caught for commercial purposes was

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approved in July 2017, while the FAO Guidelines for the Marking of Fishing Gear to assist
in the prevention of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear and its harmful
impacts will be tabled for approval at the 2018 session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries.
The successful implementation of PSMA, the Global Record and these voluntary guidelines
will mark a turning point in the fight against IUU fishing and in favour of the long-term
conservation and sustainable use of living marine resources.

The Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC), which came into force on 4 November 2016, has also become omnipresent in
the international discourse on oceans. The agreement, which aims at keeping the global
temperature rise this century well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels, recognizes the
fundamental priority of safeguarding food security and ending hunger. As co-leader of the
UNFCCC Oceans Action Agenda, and in support of the Koronivia Joint Work on
Agriculture launched at the twenty-third Conference of the Parties to UNFCCC (COP 23),
FAO has elevated recognition of the essential role of fisheries and aquaculture for food
security and nutrition in the context of climate change, especially in the developing world.

The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2018 highlights the critical importance of
fisheries and aquaculture for the food, nutrition and employment of millions of people,
many of whom struggle to maintain reasonable livelihoods. Total fish production in 2016
reached an all-time high of 171 million tonnes, of which 88 percent was utilized for direct
human consumption, thanks to relatively stable capture fisheries production, reduced
wastage and continued aquaculture growth. This production resulted in a record-high
per capita consumption of 20.3 kg in 2016. Since 1961 the annual global growth in fish
consumption has been twice as high as population growth, demonstrating that the
fisheries sector is crucial in meeting FAO’s goal of a world without hunger and
malnutrition. While annual growth of aquaculture has declined in recent years,
significant double-digit growth is still recorded in some countries, particularly in Africa
and Asia. The sector’s contribution to economic growth and the fight against poverty is

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 FOREWORD

growing. Strengthened demand and higher prices increased the value of global fish
exports in 2017 to USD 152 billion, 54 percent originating from developing countries.

The fisheries and aquaculture sector is not without challenges, however, including the
need to reduce the percentage of fish stocks fished beyond biological sustainability,
currently 33.1 percent; to ensure that biosecurity and animal disease challenges are
tackled successfully; and to maintain complete and accurate national statistics in support
of policy development and implementation. These and other challenges engendered FAO’s
Blue Growth Initiative, an innovative, integrated and multisectoral approach to the
management of aquatic resources aimed at maximizing the ecosystem goods and services
obtained from the use of oceans, inland waters and wetlands, while also providing social
and economic benefits.

The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture is the only publication of its kind, providing
technical insight and factual information on a sector increasingly recognized as crucial
for societal success. In addition to reporting major trends and patterns observed in global
fisheries and aquaculture, this edition scans the horizon for new and upcoming areas
that need to be considered if we are to manage aquatic resources sustainably into the
future, including cooperation through regional fisheries bodies and advances such as
blockchain technology, to ensure that in delivering the SDGs we tackle the root causes of
poverty and hunger while building a fairer society that leaves no one behind.

Previous editions have been accessed on the Internet well over 1 500 times a day. I hope
this edition will have the same quantitative and qualitative impact, making a valuable
contribution to help meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.

José Graziano da Silva

FAO Director-General

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 PART 1
WORLD REVIEW

T
he world review in Part 1 aquaculture representing 47 percent of
of The State of World the total and 53 percent if non-food
Fisheries and Aquaculture uses (including reduction to fishmeal
2018 presents FAO’s and fish oil) are excluded. With capture
official world fishery and fishery production relatively static
aquaculture statistics. since the late 1980s, aquaculture has
been responsible for the continuing
Global fish production1 peaked at about impressive growth in the supply of fish
171 million tonnes in 2016, with for human consumption.
1 Unless otherwise specified, throughout this publication, the term "fish" indicates fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic animals, but excludes aquatic mammals, crocodiles, caimans,
seaweeds and other aquatic plants.

FIGURE 1
WORLD CAPTURE FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION

180

160

140

120
MILLION TONNES

100

80

60

40

20

0
1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Capture production Aquaculture production

NOTE: Excludes aquatic mammals, crocodiles, alligators and caimans, seaweeds and other aquatic plants

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 PART 1

1. CAPTURE FISHERIES Total marine catches by China, by far the world’s

PRODUCTION top producer, were stable in 2016, but the
inclusion of a progressive catch reduction
Global total capture fisheries production, as policy in the national Thirteenth
derived from the FAO capture database, was Five-Year Plan for 2016–2020 is expected
90.9 million tonnes in 2016, a small to result in significant decreases in
decrease in comparison to the two coming years, with a predicted reduction
previous years. World total marine of more than 5 million tonnes by 2020.
catch was 81.2 million tonnes in 2015
and 79.3 million tonnes in 2016. As in 2014, Alaska pollock (Theragra chalcogramma)
Catches of anchoveta (Engraulis again surpassed anchoveta as the top species in 2016,
ringens) by Peru and Chile, which are with the highest catches since 1998.
often substantial yet highly variable However, preliminary data for 2017
because of the inf luence of El Niño, showed a significant recovery of
accounted for 1.1 million tonnes of anchoveta catches. Skipjack tuna
this decrease (Tables 2 and 3). (Katsuwonus pelamis) ranked third for
Decreasing catches affected the seventh consecutive year. All the most
64 percent of the 25 top producer valuable species groups with significant
countries, but only 37 percent of the production – lobsters, gastropods, crabs
remaining 170 countries and shrimps, with an estimated average

TABLE 1
WORLD FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION (MILLION TONNES)a
Category 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Production
Capture
Inland 10.7 11.2 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.6
Marine 81.5 78.4 79.4 79.9 81.2 79.3
Total capture 92.2 89.5 90.6 91.2 92.7 90.9
Aquaculture
Inland 38.6 42.0 44.8 46.9 48.6 51.4
Marine 23.2 24.4 25.4 26.8 27.5 28.7
Total aquaculture 61.8 66.4 70.2 73.7 76.1 80.0
Total world fisheries and aquaculture 154.0 156.0 160.7 164.9 168.7 170.9
Utilization b
Human consumption 130.0 136.4 140.1 144.8 148.4 151.2
Non-food uses 24.0 19.6 20.6 20.0 20.3 19.7
Population (billions) c 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.3 7.4
Per capita apparent consumption (kg) 18.5 19.2 19.5 19.9 20.2 20.3

a
Excludes aquatic mammals, crocodiles, alligators and caimans, seaweeds and other aquatic plants.
b
Utilization data for 2014–2016 are provisional estimates.
c
Source of population figures: UN, 2015e.
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 T H E S TAT E O F WO RL D FI S H ERI ES A N D AQ UACU LT U RE 2018 IN BRIEF

value by group of USD 8 800 to USD 3 800 2. AQUACULTURE

per tonne – marked a new catch record PRODUCTION
in 2016.
Global aquaculture production (including aquatic
Total global catch in inland waters was 11.6 million plants) in 2016 was 110.2 million tonnes, with
tonnes in 2016, an increase of 2.0 percent the first-sale value estimated at
over the previous year and of 10.5 percent USD 243.5 billion. The first-sale value,
in comparison to the 2005–2014 average. re-estimated with newly available
In 2016, 16 countries, mostly in Asia, information for some major producing
produced almost 80 percent of these countries, is considerably higher than
catches. The continuously increasing previous estimates. The total
trend of inland fisheries production may production included 80.0 million
be misleading, however, as some of the tonnes of food fish (USD 231.6 billion)
increase can be attributed to improved and 30.1 million tonnes of aquatic
reporting and assessment at the country plants (USD 11.7 billion) as well as
level and may not be entirely due to 37 900 tonnes of non-food products
increased production. (USD 214.6 million).

FIGURE 5
WORLD AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION OF FOOD FISH AND AQUATIC PLANTS,
1990–2016

100

80

60
MILLION TONNES

40

20

20

40
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Other animal species (all aquaculture) Molluscs (all aquaculture) Aquatic plants (all aquaculture)
Crustaceans (inland aquaculture) Finfish (marine and coastal aquaculture)
Crustaceans (marine and coastal aquaculture) Finfish (inland aquaculture)

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 PART 1

The contribution of aquaculture to the global people engaged in aquaculture and

production of capture fisheries and aquaculture 40.3 million people engaged in
combined has risen continuously, reaching fisheries. The proportion of those
46.8 percent in 2016, up from 25.7 percent employed in capture fisheries
in 2000. With 5.8 percent annual decreased from 83 percent in 1990 to
growth rate during the period 68 percent in 2016, while the
2001–2016, aquaculture continues to proportion of those employed in
grow faster than other major food aquaculture correspondingly
production sectors, but it no longer increased from 17 to 32 percent.
enjoys the high annual growth rates
experienced in the 1980s and 1990s. In 2016, 85 percent of the global population
Also, the disparity in the level of engaged in the fisheries and aquaculture
sectoral development and uneven sectors was in Asia, followed by Africa
production distribution remain great (10 percent) and Latin America and
among the countries within the the Caribbean (4 percent). The trends
regions and across the world. in the number of people engaged in
the fisheries and aquaculture primary
The growth of farming of fed aquatic animal sectors vary by region. Europe and
species has outpaced the farming of unfed North America have experienced the
species in world aquaculture. The share of largest proportional decreases in the
unfed species in total aquatic animal number of people engaged in both
production decreased gradually from sectors, with particular decreases in
2000 to 2016, shrinking by 10 capture fishing. In contrast, Africa
percentage points to 30.5 percent. and Asia, with higher population
growth and increasing economically
In 2016, aquaculture was the source of active populations in the agriculture
96.5 percent by volume of the total 31.2 million sector, have shown a generally
tonnes of wild-collected and cultivated aquatic positive trend for the number of
plants combined. Global production of people engaged in capture fishing and
farmed aquatic plants, overwhelmingly even higher rates of increase in those
dominated by seaweeds, grew in output engaged in aquaculture.
volume from 13.5 million tonnes in 1995
to just over 30 million tonnes in 2016. It is estimated that in 2016, overall, women
accounted for nearly 14 percent of all people
3. FISHERS AND directly engaged in the fisheries and
aquaculture primary sector, as compared
FISH FARMERS with an average of 15.2 percent across
The most recent official statistics indicate that the reporting period 2009–2016.
59.6 million people were engaged in the The decrease could be partially
primary sector of capture fisheries and ascribed to decreased
aquaculture in 2016, with 19.3 million sex-disaggregated reporting.

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 T H E S TAT E O F WO RL D FI S H ERI ES A N D AQ UACU LT U RE 2018 IN BRIEF

TABLE 11
WORLD EMPLOYMENT FOR FISHERS AND FISH FARMERS BY REGION (thousands)
Region 1995 2000 2005 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Fisheries and aquaculture
Africa 2 392 4 175 4 430 5 027 5 250 5 885 6 009 5 674 5 992 5 671

Asia 31 296 39 646 43 926 49 345 48 926 49 040 47 662 47 730 50 606 50 468

Europe 530 779 705 662 656 647 240 394 455 445
Latin America
and the 1 503 1 774 1 907 2 185 2 231 2 251 2 433 2 444 2 482 2 466
Caribbean
North America 382 346 329 324 324 323 325 325 220 218

Oceania 121 126 122 124 128 127 47 46 343 342

Total 36 223 46 845 51 418 57 667 57 514 58 272 56 716 56 612 60 098 59 609

Fisheries
Africa 2 327 4 084 4 290 4 796 4 993 5 587 5 742 5 413 5 687 5 367

Asia 23 534 27 435 29 296 31 430 29 923 30 865 29 574 30 190 32 078 31 990

Europe 474 676 614 560 553 544 163 328 367 354
Latin America
and the 1 348 1 560 1 668 1 937 1 966 1 982 2 085 2 092 2 104 2 085
Caribbean
North America 376 340 319 315 315 314 316 316 211 209

Oceania 117 121 117 119 122 121 42 40 334 334

Total fishers 28 176 34 216 36 304 39 157 37 872 39 411 37 922 38 379 40 781 40 339
Aquaculture
Africa 65 91 140 231 257 298 267 261 305 304

Asia 7 762 12 211 14 630 17 915 18 373 18 175 18 088 17 540 18 528 18 478

Europe 56 103 91 102 103 103 77 66 88 91

Latin America
and the 155 214 239 248 265 269 348 352 378 381
Caribbean
North America 6 6 10 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

Oceania 4 5 5 5 6 6 5 6 9 8
Total fish
8 049 12 632 15 115 18 512 19 015 18 861 18 794 18 235 19 316 19 271
farmers

4. THE FISHING FLEET America the estimated number of

vessels declined from 2014 by just over
The total number of fishing vessels in the world 30 000 and by nearly 5 000,
in 2016 was estimated to be about 4.6 million, respectively. For Asia, Latin America
unchanged from 2014. The f leet in Asia and the Caribbean and Oceania the
was the largest, consisting of 3.5 million numbers all increased, largely as a
vessels, accounting for 75 percent of the result of improvements in
global f leet. In Africa and North estimation procedures.

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 PART 1

Globally, the number of engine-powered vessels 5. THE STATUS OF FISHERY

was estimated to be 2.8 million in 2016, RESOURCES
remaining steady from 2014.
Motorized vessels represented The fraction of fish stocks that are within
61 percent of all fishing vessels in biologically sustainable levels has exhibited a
2016, down from 64 percent in 2014, decreasing trend, from 90.0 percent in 1974 to
as the number of non-motorized 66.9 percent in 2015. In contrast, the
vessels increased, probably because of percentage of stocks fished at
improved estimations. biologically unsustainable levels
increased from 10 percent in 1974 to
In 2016, about 86 percent of the motorized 33.1 percent in 2015, with the largest
fishing vessels in the world were in the length increases in the late 1970s and 1980s.
overall (LOA) class of less than 12 m, the vast
majority of which were undecked, and In 2015, maximally sustainably fished stocks
those small vessels dominated in all (formerly termed fully fished stocks) accounted
regions. Conversely, the largest for 59.9 percent and underfished stocks
vessels, classified as those with LOA for 7.0 percent of the total assessed
greater than 24 m made up about stocks. While the proportion of
2 percent of the total f leet. underfished stocks decreased

FIGURE 14
GLOBAL TRENDS IN THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S MARINE FISH STOCKS, 1974–2015

100

Overfished

80

60 Maximally sustainably fished

PERCENTAGE

40

20 Underfished

0
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

YEAR
Biologically sustainable Biologically unsustainable

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 T H E S TAT E O F WO RL D FI S H ERI ES A N D AQ UACU LT U RE 2018 IN BRIEF

continuously from 1974 to 2015, the Live, fresh or chilled is often the most preferred
maximally sustainably fished stocks and highly priced form of fish and represents
decreased from 1974 to 1989, and then the largest share of fish for direct human
increased to 59.9 percent in 2015. consumption, 45 percent in 2016, followed by
frozen (31 percent), prepared and
In 2015, among the 16 major statistical areas, preserved (12 percent) and cured
the Mediterranean and Black Sea (Area 37) had (dried, salted, in brine, fermented
the highest percentage (62.2 percent) of smoked) (12 percent). Freezing
unsustainable stocks, closely followed by represents the main method of
the Southeast Pacific 61.5 percent processing fish for human
(Area 87) and Southwest Atlantic consumption; it accounted for
58.8 percent (Area 41). In contrast, the 56 percent of total processed fish for
Eastern Central Pacific (Area 77), human consumption and 27 percent of
Northeast Pacific (Area 67), Northwest total fish production in 2016.
Pacific (Area 61), Western Central
Pacific (Area 71) and Southwest Pacific Major improvements in processing as
(Area 81) had the lowest proportion well as in refrigeration, ice-making and
(13 to 17 percent) of fish stocks at transportation have allowed increasing
biologically unsustainable levels. commercialization and distribution of
fish in a greater variety of product
6. FISH UTILIZATION AND forms in the past few decades.
However, developing countries still
PROCESSING mainly use fish in live or fresh form
In 2016, of the 171 million tonnes of total fish (53 percent of the fish destined for
production, about 88 percent or over 151 million human consumption in 2016), soon
tonnes were utilized for direct human consumption. after landing or harvesting from
This share has increased significantly aquaculture. Loss or wastage between
in recent decades, as it was 67 percent landing and consumption decreased,
in the 1960s. but still accounts for an estimated
27 percent of landed fish.
In 2016, the greatest part of the 12 percent used
for non-food purposes (about 20 million tonnes) 7. FISH TRADE AND
was reduced to fishmeal and fish oil (74 percent or
15 million tonnes), while the rest (5 million
COMMODITIES
tonnes) was largely utilized as Fish and fish products are some of the
material for direct feeding in most traded food items in the world today,
aquaculture and raising of livestock and most of the world’s countries report
and fur animals, in culture (e.g. fry, some fish trade. In 2016, about 35 percent of
fingerlings or small adults for global fish production entered international trade in
ongrowing), as bait, in pharmaceutical various forms for human consumption or
uses and for ornamental purposes. non-edible purposes.

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 PART 1

FIGURE 21
IMPORT AND EXPORT VALUES OF FISH PRODUCTS FOR DIFFERENT REGIONS, INDICATING NET
DEFICIT OR SURPLUS

ASIA EXCLUDING CHINA EUROPE

60 60

40 Deficit
BILLION USD

BILLION USD
40

20 Deficit 20

0 0
1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016

NORTH AMERICA CHINA

25
25

20 20

15 15
BILLION USD

BILLION USD

Deficit Surplus
10 10

5 5
0
0
1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016

AFRICA OCEANIA
8 8

6 6
BILLION USD

BILLION USD

4 4

2 Surplus 2
Surplus
0 0
1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

20

15
BILLION USD

10

Surplus
5
Export value (free on board)

0 Import value (cost, insurance, freight)

1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016

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The share of global fish production being exported as only 1 percent of its total merchandise
fish and fish products for human consumption has trade. Behind China, Norway is the next
shown an upward trend, from 11 percent in 1976 to largest exporter of fish and fish products,
27 percent in 2016. The 60 million tonnes followed by Vietnam. The European Union
(live weight equivalent) of total fish and followed by the United States and Japan
fish products exported in 2016 represent are the major importers of fish and fish
a 245 percent increase over 1976, and the products. Overall developed countries
increase is more than 510 percent if only accounted for about 71 percent of global
trade in fish for human consumption import value in 2016 and, according to
is considered. preliminary figures, also in 2017.

During the same period, world trade in fish and fish 8. FISH CONSUMPTION
products also grew significantly in value terms, with
exports rising from USD 8 billion in 1976 to USD 143 Since 1961, the average annual increase
billion in 2016, at an annual growth rate of in global apparent food fish
8 percent in nominal terms and 4 percent consumption (3.2 percent) has outpaced
in real terms. population growth (1.6 percent) and
exceeded consumption of meat from all
The rapid rate of expansion of terrestrial animals, combined (2.8
international trade in fish and fish percent) and individually (bovine, ovine,
products over recent decades has taken pig, other), except poultry (4.9 percent).
place in the context of a broader process In per capita terms, food fish consumption has grown
of globalization, a large-scale from 9.0 kg in 1961 to 20.2 kg in 2015, at an
transformation of the world economy average rate of about 1.5 percent per year.
driven by trade liberalization and Preliminary estimates for 2016 and
technological advancements. Developing 2017 point to further growth to about
countries play a key role in this trade and 20.3 and 20.5 kg, respectively.
during the past 40 years, the growth rate
of exports from developing countries has The expansion in consumption has
increased faster than from developed been driven not only by increased
ones. In 2016 and, according to production, but also by a combination
preliminary figures, also in 2017, of many other factors, including
developing country exports made up reduced wastage, better utilization,
approximately 54 percent of the total improved distribution channels and
value and about 59 percent of the total growing demand, linked with
quantity (in live weight equivalent) of population growth, rising incomes and
exports of fish and fish products. urbanization.

China is the main fish producer and since 2002 Globally, fish and fish products provide
has also been the largest exporter of fish an average of only about 34 calories per
and fish products, although they represent capita per day. However more than as an

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 PART 1

energy source, the dietary contribution of fish is consumption in 1961 but only about 20 percent in 2015.
significant in terms of high-quality, easily digested Of the global total of 149 million tonnes in
animal proteins and especially in fighting 2015, Asia consumed more than
micronutrient deficiencies. A portion of 150 g two-thirds (106 million tonnes at 24.0 kg
of fish provides about 50 to 60 percent per capita). Oceania and Africa consumed
of an adult’s daily protein requirement. the lowest share. The shift is the result of
Fish proteins are essential in the diet of structural changes in the sector and in
some densely populated countries where particular the growing role of Asian
the total protein intake is low, and are countries in fish production, as well as a
particularly important in diets in small significant gap between the economic
island developing States (SIDS). growth rates of the world’s more mature
fish markets and those of many
Europe, Japan and the United States of America together increasingly important emerging markets
accounted for 47 percent of the world’s total food fish around the world, particularly in Asia.

FIGURE 29
CONTRIBUTION OF FISH TO ANIMAL PROTEIN SUPPLY, AVERAGE 2013–2015

FISH PROTEINS PER CAPITA PER DAY

<2g FISH PROTEINS PER CAPITA PER DAY

2−4DAY
FISH PROTEINS PER CAPITA PER g <2g

FISH PROTEINS PER CAPITA PER<DAY

2g 4−6 g 2−4 g

<2g 2−4 g 6−10 g 4−6 g

FISH PROTEINS PER CAPITA PER2−4

DAYg 4−6 g > 10 g 6−10 g

<2g 4−6 g 6−10 g > 20% contribution of>fish

10 to
g animal protein supply

2−4 g 6−10 g > 10 g No data > 20% contribution of fish to animal protein supply

4−6 g > 10 g > 20% contribution of fish to animal proteinNosupply

data
NOTE: Final boundary between the Sudan and South Sudan has not yet been determined.
6−10 g > 20% contribution of fish
Notodata
animal protein supply
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> 10 g No data

> 20% contribution of fish to animal protein supply

 T H E S TAT E O F WO RL D FI S H ERI ES A N D AQ UACU LT U RE 2018 IN BRIEF

FIGURE 2
WORLD FISH UTILIZATION AND APPARENT CONSUMPTION

POPULATION (BILLIONS) AND APPARENT CONSUMPTION (KG/CAPITA)

160 24

140 21

120 18
FISH UTILIZATION (MILLION TONNES)

100 15

80 12

60 9

40 6

20 3

0 0
1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Food Non-food uses Population Apparent consumption

NOTE: Excludes aquatic mammals, crocodiles, alligators and caimans, seaweeds and other aquatic plants

9. GOVERNANCE AND POLICY SDGs. Thus, the focus of fisheries governance and
development has broadened to include not only
In fisheries and aquaculture, the conservation of resources, biodiversity
commitment to leave no one behind is a and the environment, but also recognition
call to focus action and cooperation on of the social agency, well-being and
achieving the core ambitions of the 2030 livelihoods of people working in the sector
Agenda for the benefit of all fish workers, and the contributions of fisheries to include a
their families and their communities. multiplicity of interconnected global agendas, such as
for food security, nutrition and trade.
Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14), Life below
water, has clear connections to the fisheries Through a series of conferences, events,
and aquaculture sectors. Fisheries are an and other platforms, the international
integral part of healthy ecosystems, and community is seeking to ensure the
the ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) involvement of stakeholders from the
and the ecosystem approach to fisheries and aquaculture sector in the
aquaculture (EAA) are being SDG discussions and is raising awareness
mainstreamed in management of capture to promote policies and practices that will
fisheries and aquaculture. However, the ensure the sector’s contributions towards
sector is also highly relevant to nine other meeting all ten relevant SDGs.

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 PART 1

The biennial meetings of the FAO Committee on dedicated to oceans. The outcomes included
Fisheries (COFI) – which serves as the only adoption of a Call for Action which
global intergovernmental forum focuses on concrete and action-oriented
examining major international fisheries recommendations and more than 1 300
and aquaculture issues – support the 2030 voluntary commitments for future work
Agenda through recommendations and related to the implementation of SDG 14.
guidance addressed to governments,
regional fishery bodies, With people consuming more fish than
non-governmental organizations (NGOs), ever, the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries
fish workers, FAO and the international (CCRF) is increasingly relevant as the guiding
community. framework for implementing the principles of
sustainable development in fisheries and aquaculture.
The United Nations Ocean Conference in 2017 New initiatives being taken to advance
(formally, the high-level United Nations the implementation of CCRF include
Conference to Support the efforts to move towards SDG-compliant
Implementation of SDG 14: Conserve and investments, integrated networks for
sustainably use the oceans, seas and reducing IUU fishing and management of
marine resources for sustainable the risks of food production
development) was the first UN global event from aquaculture. n

FIGURE 32
KEEPING MOMENTUM TO ACHIEVE THE 2030 AGENDA

DELIVERABLES

2030: Increased economic benefits to SIDS and LDCs from

sustainable use of marine resources (SDG target 14.7)

2025: Marine pollution significantly reduced (SDG target 14.1)

Fish mainstreamed into food security and nutrition policy by end
of UN Decade of Action on Nutrition
2030

2020: Marine ecosystems sustainably managed (SDG target 14.2)

An end to overfishing and IUU fishing (SDG target 14.4) and FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI)
subsidies that contribute to them (SDG target 14.6), for every two years
earliest possible restoration of fish stocks 2022: International Year of Artisanal Fisheries
At least 10 percent of coastal and and Aquaculture (IYAFA)
marine areas conserved 2018: First International Day for the Fight
(SDG target 14.5 and Aichi target 11) Against IUU Fishing (every 5 June)

2017, 2020: UN Ocean Conferences

2016: PSMA enters into
force; data exchange 2016–2025: UN Decade of Action on Nutrition
operational at national,
regional and 2016: First Global Integrated Marine
international levels Assessment: World Ocean Assessment I UN ACTIVITIES: RAISING AWARENESS, PROMOTING ACTION

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PART 2
FAO FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE IN ACTION

P
art 2, “FAO Fisheries and The principles of responsible fisheries
Aquaculture in action”, management have been prescribed in a
presents FAO’s position on key number of international ocean and
work areas for which FAO fisheries instruments. However, States do
strategies are established, not always satisfactorily fulfil their duties
including: FAO fisheries and sustainable in line with such instruments and IUU
development goals; FAO’s approach to fishing often occurs, undermining
data collation, curation, management and national, regional and global efforts to
dissemination; combatting IUU fishing ; manage fisheries sustainably. It is not
mainstreaming biodiversity in fisheries enough for States to detect IUU fishing;
and aquaculture; inland fisheries they must strengthen fisheries laws and
contribution to achievement of the SDGs; regulations and be able to take effective
fish, nutrition and health; and recent action against perpetrators to deter
successes in implementing the ecosystem non-compliance.
approach to fisheries and to aquaculture.
Although States need to improve
COMBATTING ILLEGAL, performance and implement port State
measures, there have been important
UNREPORTED AND achievements in the fight against IUU
UNREGULATED FISHING: fishing. These include the development
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS and adoption of international guidelines
to promote the use of catch
The promotion, regulation and documentation schemes (CDSs) for better
monitoring of responsible fishing traceability of fish and fish products in
practices, through robust fisheries the value chain; the global and regional
management and governance development of fishing vessel records;
frameworks, are essential for the and the adoption of the FAO Agreement
sustainability of fisheries resources in on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter
both coastal areas and high seas. and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and

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 PART 2

Unregulated Fishing (PSMA). The PSMA, Supply Vessels (Global Record) was
the CDS Guidelines and the Global Record launched in April 2017, less than a year
represent a synergistic framework for after the entry into force of the PSMA.
combating IUU fishing. This information system, which has been
widely supported by FAO Members and
Implementation of the Port State Observers, is expected to close the
information gap on vessels carrying out
Measures Agreement fishing and fishing-related activities.
The PSMA entered into force in June 2016 In addition to recording identification
with 30 Parties, including the European information such as registration, vessel
Union as one Party. As of 5 April 2018, characteristics and ownership, it also
the agreement had 54 Parties and includes information relevant to the fight
numerous other States had initiated steps against IUU fishing such as previous
to take part, ensuring that the number of vessel names, owners and operators as
ports for use by IUU fishing vessels will well as authorizations to fish, transship
continue to decrease. The PSMA sets or supply and history of compliance.
conditions for the entry and use of ports
by foreign fishing vessels and defines Catch documentation schemes
minimum international standards to be
applied by port States in reviewing Voluntary Guidelines on Catch
information prior to the vessels’ entry Documentation Schemes were officially
into port; conducting inspections in their approved by the Conference of FAO in
designated ports; taking measures July 2017, following a lengthy
against vessels found to have engaged in development process. The guidelines are
IUU fishing; and exchanging information designed to provide assistance to States,
with concerned States. RFMOs (Regional Fishery Management
Organizations), regional economic
Global Record of Fishing Vessels, integration organizations and other
intergovernmental organizations in
Refrigerated Transport Vessels developing and implementing new Catch
The Global Record of Fishing Vessels, Documentation Schemes or harmonizing
Refrigerated Transport Vessels and or reviewing existing ones. n

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PART 3
HIGHLIGHTS OF ONGOING STUDIES

P
art 3, “Highlights of ongoing Agreement is based on Nationally
studies”, discusses global Determined Contributions (NDCs).
issues and reviews possible
solutions and strategies with Over 80 countries have so far included fisheries
specific attention to and/or aquaculture in their priority adaptation
cross-cutting and cross-sectoral aspects. areas and actions, but these priority areas
Topics include State Measures to have limited specificity and ambition,
Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, mainly because of limited understanding
Unreported and Unregulated Fishing of the impacts of climate change,
(PSMA); climate change impacts and responses ; insufficient guidance on adaptation tools,
small-scale fisheries and aquaculture; and insufficient technical capacity to
realizing aquaculture’s potential; market integrate fisheries and aquaculture in
developments; sustainable value chains nationally determined contributions
and consumer protection; ocean (NDCs). Addressing these elements would
pollution; and social issues in fisheries ensure that effective measures are taken
and aquaculture. to minimize the negative impacts of
climate change.
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS
AND RESPONSES Assessing climate change impacts
The Paris Agreement of the United for fisheries and aquaculture
Nations Framework Convention on Primary production of the global ocean is
Climate Change (UNFCCC), which came expected to decline by 6 percent by 2100 and by
into force on 5 October 2016, strengthens 11 percent in tropical zones. Diverse models
the global response to climate change predict that by 2050, the total global fish
and is an integral part of the 2030 catch potential may vary by less than
Agenda, wherein SDG 13 calls for urgent 10 percent depending on the trajectory of
actions to combat climate change and its greenhouse gas emissions, but with very
impact. Implementation of the Paris significant geographical variability.

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 PART 3

FIGURE 39
EXAMPLES OF PROJECTED IMPACTS AND VULNERABILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH CLIMATE
CHANGE IN OCEAN SUBREGIONS (TOP), WITH EXAMPLES OF RISKS TO FISHERIES FROM
OBSERVED AND PROJECTED IMPACTS (BOTTOM)

PROJECTED IMPACTS AND VULNERABILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH CLIMATE CHANGE

1) Expansion of low productivity 6) Decline in dissolved oxygen 3) Upwelling, hence productivity, changes as a 9) Mass coral bleaching and mortality
areas as a consequence of through changes in solubility and result of climate variability (Low) in response to warming (Very high)
thermal stratification (Low) ocean circulation (Medium)

4) Spread of tropical species originating

from Indian and Atlantic Oceans (High)
7) Expansion of seasonally
2) Northward expansion of fish hypoxic waters due to thermal
communities; increase in fish stratification and eutrophication; 8) Shoaling of aragonite
biomass at high latitude fringes mass coral bleaching events 5) Expansion of Oxygen saturation horizon reduces
(High) (High) Minimum Zones (High) biological calcification (High)

B
2
C
2 B
A C
4

7
E
1 3 5
7 D

9
6
G

H
F H

E) Decline in primary B) Increased fish catches at C) Thermal stratification D) Sea level rise modifies H) Temperature-driven
production and high-latitude fringes with and eutrophication reduces coastlines and increases shifts in stocks of large
reductions in fish catch economic disruptions and dissolved oxygen (Medium) flooding (Medium) pelagic fish create winners
(Low) jurisdictional tensions as and losers (High)
some fish stocks shift
distributions (Medium)
G) Degradation of coral reefs and
A) Acidification affects F) Increase in variability of upwelling associated fish stocks as the extent
shellfish aquaculture in some Eastern Boundary Upwelling and intensity of mass coral bleaching
(Medium) Systems (Medium) and mortality increases (High)

RISKS TO FISHERIES FROM OBSERVED AND PROJECTED IMPACTS

IPCC OCEAN SUBREGIONS

High-Latitude Spring Bloom Systems Coastal Boundary Systems Equatorial Upwelling Systems
Semi-Enclosed Seas Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems Subtropical Gyres

NOTE: Level of confidence is indicated in brackets

SOURCE: Modified from Figure 30-12 in Hoegh-Guldberg et al., 2014

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 T H E S TAT E O F WO RL D FI S H ERI ES A N D AQ UACU LT U RE 2018 IN BRIEF

While impacts will be predominately combination of these: Institutions and

negative in many fisheries-dependent management; Livelihood adaptation;
tropical regions, opportunities will also Resilience and risk reduction.
arise in temperate regions.
Guiding countries on the integration
Recent projections also reveal decreases
in both marine and terrestrial of fisheries and aquaculture in
production in almost 85 percent of coastal National Adaptation Plans
countries analysed, varying widely in their
national capacity to adapt (Blanchard et National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) are
al., 2017). These findings underline the mechanisms to enhance medium- to
importance of responding to climate long-term climate change adaptation
change in a coordinated manner across planning formally established at the
all food systems, to ensure sixteenth Conference of the Parties to
opportunities are maximized and UNFCCC (COP 16) in 2010. In support of
negative impacts reduced, and to secure the NAP process, FAO has developed a set
food and livelihood provision. of guidelines (in addition to the ones
issued by the UNFCCC) for all agricultural
Adaptation concepts and tools sectors as well as specific guidelines for
fisheries and aquaculture.
IPCC (2014) defines adaptation as
“the process of adjustment to actual or The guidance for fisheries and
expected climate and its effects”. aquaculture builds on the principles of
Low-income countries and population EAF/EAA, proposing clear steps to
groups, in particular, often lack the ensure that the specificities of the sector
institutional, financial and technological are ref lected in the NAP process and
capacity to adapt effectively. The Paris support adaptation planning within the
Agreement thus urges a significant sector. The guidance addresses the
increase in financial assistance for following four elements: Institutional
adaptation in developing countries. stocktaking and assessment; Technical
Adaptation interventions may be assessment; Planning integration;
designed to target three areas or a and Implementation. n

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 FOREWORD

PART 4
OUTLOOK AND EMERGING ISSUES

P
art 4, “Outlook and emerging the FAO fish model, a dynamic
issues”, is firmly geared on policy-specific partial equilibrium model
sectoral perspectives through developed in 2010 to gain insight on the
modelled projections and a potential path of development of the
prospective review of our fisheries and aquaculture sector.
changing environment. It addresses
emerging topics such as blue growth (an Baseline projections
innovative, integrated and multisectoral
approach to the management of aquatic Production: Based on the assumption of
resources aimed at maximizing the higher demand and technological
ecosystem goods and services obtained improvements, total world fish
from the use of oceans, inland waters and production (capture plus aquaculture,
wetlands, while also providing social and excluding aquatic plants) is expected to
economic benefits); regional cooperation continue to expand over the course of the
for sustainable development; the role of projection period to reach 201 million
regional fishery bodies in aquaculture tonnes in 2030. This represents a growth
development; and disruptive of 18 percent over 2016, or 30 million
technologies (new technologies that are tonnes at a lower annual growth rate
not yet refined but have the potential to (1.0 percent) than observed in the period
change fishing activity, to make it 2003–2016 (2.3 percent). The major
safer, more precise, more predictable and growth in production is expected to
more sustainable). originate from aquaculture, which is
projected to reach 109 million tonnes in
PROJECTIONS OF FISHERIES, 2030, with growth of 37 percent
over 2016.
AQUACULTURE AND MARKETS
This section presents short-term fish Prices: The sector is expected to enter a
demand and supply projections and decade of higher prices in nominal terms.
medium-term projections obtained using Factors driving this tendency include

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 T H E S TAT E O F WO RL D FI S H ERI ES A N D AQ UACU LT U RE 2018 IN BRIEF

income, population growth and meat human consumption (around 90 percent).

prices on the demand side; and the The driving force behind this increase will
potential slight decline in capture be a combination of rising incomes and
fisheries production as a result of policy urbanization, linked with the expansion of
measures in China, the slowdown in fish production and improved distribution
growth of aquaculture production and channels. World food fish consumption in
cost pressure from some crucial inputs 2030 is projected to be 20 percent
(e.g. feed, energy and crude oil) on the (or 30 million tonnes live weight
supply side. In real terms, adjusted for equivalent) higher than in 2016. However,
inf lation, it is assumed that all prices will it is predicted that average annual growth
decline slightly over the projection period rate will be slower in the projection period
but will remain high. As aquaculture is (+1.2 percent) than in the 2003–2016
expected to represent a higher share of period (+3.0 percent), mainly because of
world fish supply, aquaculture could have reduced production growth, higher fish
a stronger impact on price formation in prices and a deceleration in
the sector overall (both production population expansion.
and trade).
In per capita terms, world fish
Consumption: A growing share of fish consumption is projected to reach 21.5 kg
production is expected to be destined for in 2030, up from 20.3 kg in 2016.

FIGURE 50
GLOBAL CAPTURE FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION, 1990–2030

120

100
MILLION TONNES (LIVE WEIGHT EQUIVALENT)

80

60

40

20

0
1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 2026 2030

Aquaculture for human consumption Total capture fisheries Capture fisheries for human consumption

| 25 |
 PART 1

The highest growth rates are projected Summary of main outcomes from
for Latin America (+18 percent) and for
Asia and Oceania (+8 percent each).
the projections
In Africa, per capita fish consumption is The following major trends for the period
expected to decrease by 0.2 percent per up to 2030 emerge from the analyses:
year up to 2030, declining from 9.8 kg in
2016 to 9.6 kg in 2030, as a result of }}World fish production, consumption
population growth outpacing supply. and trade are expected to increase, but
with a growth rate that will slow over
Trade: Fish and fish products will continue time.
to be highly traded. It is projected that
about 31 percent of total fishery }}Despite reduced capture fisheries
production will be exported in 2030 production in China, world capture
(38 percent if trade within the European fisheries production is projected to
Union is included), in the form of increase slightly through increased
different products for human production in other areas if resources
consumption or non-edible purposes, are properly managed.
traded at various stages of processing.
In quantity terms, world trade of fish for }}Expanding world aquaculture
human consumption is expected to grow production, although growing more
by 24 percent in the projection period slowly than in the past, is anticipated
and to reach more than 48million tonnes to fill the supply–demand gap.
in live weight equivalent in 2030
(60.6 million tonnes if trade within the }}Prices will all increase in nominal
European Union is included). China will terms while declining in real terms,
continue to be the major exporter of fish although remaining high.
for human consumption (followed by
Viet Nam and Norway), with its share in }}Food fish supply will increase in all
total fish exports for human consumption regions, while per capita fish
remaining at 20 percent. consumption is expected to decline in
Africa, which raises concerns in terms
of food security.

}}Trade in fish and fish products is

expected to increase more slowly than
in the past decade, but the share of fish
production that is exported is projected
to remain stable. n

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 THE STATE OF
THE WORLD

2018
THE STATE OF
WORLD FISHERIES
AND AQUACULTURE
MEETING THE SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT GOALS

The 2018 edition of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture emphasizes the sector’s role in
achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals,
and measurement of progress towards these goals. It notes the particular contributions of inland
and small-scale fisheries, and highlights the importance of rights-based governance for equitable
and inclusive development.

As in past editions, the publication begins with a global analysis of trends in fisheries and
aquaculture production, stocks, processing and use, trade and consumption, based on the latest
official statistics, along with a review of the status of the world’s fishing fleets and human
engagement and governance in the sector. Topics explored in Parts 2 to 4 include aquatic
biodiversity; the ecosystem approach to fisheries and to aquaculture; climate change impacts and
responses; the sector’s contribution to food security and human nutrition; and issues related to
international trade, consumer protection and sustainable value chains. Global developments in
combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, selected ocean pollution concerns and
FAO’s efforts to improve capture fishery data are also discussed. The issue concludes with the
outlook for the sector, including projections to 2030.

As always, The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture aims to provide objective, reliable and
up-to-date information to a wide audience, including policy-makers, managers, scientists,
stakeholders and indeed all those interested in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
CA0191EN/1/07.18
FAO, 2018

2018 The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture

(full text)
Some rights reserved. This work is available
under a CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO licence