ROME (AP) — The global total volume of fish, shrimp, clams and other aquatic animals harvested by agriculture has surpassed the amount taken wildly from the world’s waters for the first time ever, the United States reported. Nations Friday.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization says in its latest report on fisheries and aquaculture – or aquatic farming – that global catch and harvest yielded more than 185 million tonnes of aquatic animals in 2022, the most recent year for which statistics are available.
Experts say this milestone in human history was expected, as catches from fishing have largely stagnated over the past thirty years – largely due to limitations in nature.
Manuel Barange, head of the FAO’s fisheries and aquaculture division, said aquaculture has benefited from growing recognition of its nutritional benefits – such as Omega 3 and other micronutrients found in aquatic animal food – and from a smaller environmental impact than food that comes from land animals.
The total amount of wild-caught aquatic animals fell from 91.6 million tonnes in 2021 to 91 million tonnes the following year, the FAO said in its latest State of the World’s Fisheries and Aquaculture report.
Global production rose to 94.4 million in 2022, from 91.1 million a year earlier, the report said.
Asia was the source of more than 90% of all aquaculture production of aquatic animals, the FAO added.
About 90% of aquatic animals farmed or fished go to human consumption, while the rest goes to other uses, such as feed for other animals or fish oil.
The most common fish caught in the world’s oceans, seas, rivers, lakes and ponds include Peruvian anchovies, skipjack tuna and Alaskan pollock, while freshwater carp, oysters, mussels, shrimp, tilapia and prawns are among the most harvested animals.
