Global fisheries and aquaculture production equaled 158 million tons in 2012 – up 10 million tons from 2010 according to the latest release of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) report “The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture”. Between the 1980’s and 2012, the share of fisheries production used by humans for food has increased from approximately 70% to a record high of more than 85% or 136 million tons, while per capita fish consumption increased from 10 kg in the 1960’s to 19 kg by 2012. The FAO estimates that fisheries and aquaculture support the livelihoods of 10% – 12% of the world’s population. Of these 84% are employed in Asia followed by Africa. Over the past few years the FAO has observed an improving trend that less than 30% of wild fish monitored by the organization are being overfished and 70% are being fished within biologically sustainable levels. However the organization warns that for aquaculture to continue growing it must lessen its dependence on wild fish and diversify its farmed species. The report found that 90% of fisheries are considered small scale and that 15% are operated by women; if considering secondary activities such as processing, this figure could be as high as 90%. To read further about the FAO’s latest findings and outlook concerning global fisheries and aquaculture:
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