While the world reeled from a global pandemic in 2020, an often-unseen industry was hauling in a staggering 178.8 million tonnes of fish, a colossal catch that feeds billions and fuels economies worth hundreds of billions of dollars.
Key Takeaways
- Global capture fisheries production reached 90.3 million tonnes in 2020
- Aquaculture production worldwide hit 87.5 million tonnes in 2020
- China led global aquaculture production with 52.2 million tonnes in 2020
- The global fishing industry was valued at $401 billion in 2022
- Aquaculture contributed $285 billion to global GDP in 2020
- Capture fisheries generated $116 billion in revenue in 2020
- Global employment in fisheries and aquaculture was 59.5 million in 2020
- Aquaculture employed 23 million people full-time equivalent in 2020
- Capture fisheries provided jobs for 36.5 million in 2020
- Global fish trade volume was 28.2 million tonnes in 2020
- Fish accounted for 17% of global animal protein supply in 2020
- China imported $20 billion in seafood in 2021
- 35% of global stocks fished at unsustainable levels in 2020
- 64% of fish stocks assessed as sustainably fished in 2020
- Overfished stocks increased to 37% globally since 1970s
Global fisheries and aquaculture produced 179 million tonnes in 2020, supporting millions of jobs and a massive industry.
Economic Statistics
- The global fishing industry was valued at $401 billion in 2022
- Aquaculture contributed $285 billion to global GDP in 2020
- Capture fisheries generated $116 billion in revenue in 2020
- US commercial fishing industry worth $5.8 billion in 2022
- Norway's seafood industry exports reached €15.3 billion in 2022
- China's fishing industry GDP contribution was $150 billion in 2020
- Global fish trade value hit $164 billion in 2020
- EU fisheries sector GDP was €25 billion in 2021
- Alaska seafood industry generated $5.8 billion in 2022
- Vietnam's aquaculture exports valued at $2.3 billion in 2021
- India's marine fisheries worth INR 1 trillion in 2020
- Global shrimp market revenue was $70 billion in 2022
- Salmon farming industry valued at $20 billion globally in 2022
- Japan's seafood imports cost $15 billion in 2021
- Peru's fishmeal industry revenue $2.5 billion in 2021
- Thailand's seafood exports reached $6.9 billion in 2021
- World Bank estimates fisheries poverty reduction impact at 540 million people
- Iceland's fishing sector contributes 25% to exports worth €2 billion
- Chile salmon industry exports $5.5 billion in 2022
- Global tuna market size $42 billion in 2022
- Ecuador's shrimp exports $6.1 billion in 2021
- Morocco's fisheries exports €2.2 billion in 2021
- Russia's seafood exports $8 billion in 2022
- Bangladesh fish exports $0.5 billion in 2020
- Philippines tuna industry $1.2 billion in 2021
Economic Statistics Interpretation
The global fishing industry's staggering $401 billion valuation reveals a sea of economic power where aquaculture has firmly taken the pole position, proving that humanity is now farming the waves with the same financial seriousness as it farms the land.
Employment Statistics
- Global employment in fisheries and aquaculture was 59.5 million in 2020
- Aquaculture employed 23 million people full-time equivalent in 2020
- Capture fisheries provided jobs for 36.5 million in 2020
- Women comprise 50% of primary aquaculture workforce globally
- US fishing industry employed 1.2 million people in 2022
- Small-scale fishers number 40 million worldwide in 2020
- Indonesia fisheries employ 7.5 million people
- China has 14 million fishers in capture fisheries
- India employs 14 million in fisheries sector
- Vietnam aquaculture jobs total 4.5 million
- Bangladesh fisheries provide 11% of employment
- EU fisheries direct jobs 135,000 in 2021
- Norway seafood industry employs 35,000
- Alaska fisheries support 48,000 jobs
- Philippines fisheries employ 1.6 million
- Thailand has 500,000 fishers
- Peru fisheries jobs 100,000 direct
- Japan fishing workforce 150,000 in 2020
- Chile salmon farming employs 60,000
- Small-scale fisheries employ 90% of global fishers
- Africa fisheries jobs 12 million
- Asia dominates with 85% of fisheries employment
- Youth under 25 are 25% of fishers in developing countries
Employment Statistics Interpretation
While the statistics portray an industry where nearly 60 million livelihoods—from Alaska's icy docks to Indonesia's bustling coasts—are hooked on the precarious balance between bountiful aquaculture and finite wild catches, the sheer scale reminds us that for countless communities, fishing isn't a pastime but the very net that keeps them afloat.
Production Statistics
- Global capture fisheries production reached 90.3 million tonnes in 2020
- Aquaculture production worldwide hit 87.5 million tonnes in 2020
- China led global aquaculture production with 52.2 million tonnes in 2020
- Norway's salmon aquaculture production was 1.5 million tonnes in 2021
- Global fish production totalled 178.8 million tonnes in 2020
- Inland capture fisheries produced 11.8 million tonnes in 2020
- Marine capture fisheries yielded 78.5 million tonnes in 2020
- Indonesia's capture fisheries production was 7.8 million tonnes in 2020
- Peru's anchoveta catch reached 2.0 million tonnes in 2021
- US commercial landings totalled 4.8 million tonnes in 2022
- Alaska pollock landings were 1.3 million tonnes in 2022
- EU capture fisheries production was 3.4 million tonnes in 2021
- Japan's tuna catch amounted to 0.4 million tonnes in 2020
- Vietnam aquaculture production grew to 4.5 million tonnes in 2020
- Bangladesh inland fisheries produced 4.2 million tonnes in 2020
- Chile's salmon production was 0.8 million tonnes in 2021
- India's marine capture was 4.1 million tonnes in 2020
- Thailand's shrimp aquaculture output was 0.3 million tonnes in 2020
- Russia's pollock catch hit 1.4 million tonnes in 2021
- Egypt's aquaculture production reached 2.0 million tonnes in 2020
- Global seaweed aquaculture was 35.1 million tonnes in 2020
- Iran's capture fisheries produced 1.2 million tonnes in 2020
- Philippines aquaculture output was 1.8 million tonnes in 2020
- Morocco's sardine catch was 0.9 million tonnes in 2021
- Turkey's aquaculture production grew to 0.8 million tonnes in 2020
- Myanmar's inland capture was 1.4 million tonnes in 2020
- South Korea's capture production was 0.7 million tonnes in 2020
- Ecuador's tuna catch reached 0.6 million tonnes in 2021
- Global carp aquaculture dominated with 25 million tonnes in 2020
- Nigeria's inland fisheries produced 1.1 million tonnes in 2020
Production Statistics Interpretation
While our oceans and rivers are still providing a massive haul, the undeniable star of this aquatic show is the farmed fish, with China single-handedly producing more aquaculture than the entire world's inland and marine catches combined, proving we're not just hunters anymore but very efficient, and slightly soggy, ranchers of the sea.
Sustainability and Environmental Statistics
- 35% of global stocks fished at unsustainable levels in 2020
- 64% of fish stocks assessed as sustainably fished in 2020
- Overfished stocks increased to 37% globally since 1970s
- Bycatch represents 10% of global catch annually
- Illegal fishing accounts for 11-26% of catch worth $23 billion
- Marine protected areas cover 8% of oceans protecting fisheries
- Aquaculture growth rate 5.8% annually 2001-2020
- Fish provides 20% of animal protein in low-income countries
- Climate change projected to reduce catches 3% by 2050
- 90% of large predatory fish populations declined since 1950
- EU discards reduced to 1% due to landing obligation
- Tuna stocks 30% overfished in Pacific
- Mangrove loss 35% since 1980 impacts shrimp farming
- Farmed fish feed conversion ratio improved to 1.5:1
- Ghost fishing from lost gear kills 640,000 tonnes yearly
- 58 million tonnes of fish used for reduction to meal/oil
- Coral reef fisheries support 6 million tonnes catch
- Acidification threatens shellfish production by 2050
- Sustainable certifications cover 20% of wild catch
- Inland fisheries underreported by 50%
- Plastic pollution affects 80% of marine mammals impacting fisheries
- Rebuilding stocks could increase production by 35 million tonnes
Sustainability and Environmental Statistics Interpretation
Nearly 90% of our ocean’s predatory giants have vanished since the 1950s, a testament to decades of relentless pressure, yet the fact that rebuilding our plundered stocks could still yield 35 million more tonnes of fish annually proves we have a choice between continuing this hollow feast or finally learning to truly harvest the sea's bounty.
Trade and Market Statistics
- Global fish trade volume was 28.2 million tonnes in 2020
- Fish accounted for 17% of global animal protein supply in 2020
- China imported $20 billion in seafood in 2021
- US seafood imports total $25 billion annually
- Norway exported seafood to 90 countries worth €15 billion in 2022
- Vietnam top shrimp exporter with 20% global share
- EU imported 5.7 million tonnes of fish in 2021
- Japan consumes 50 kg fish per capita annually
- Global per capita fish consumption 20.7 kg in 2020
- Ecuador banana trade but shrimp $6 billion exports
- Thailand frozen seafood exports 600,000 tonnes yearly
- India frozen shrimp exports 0.6 million tonnes in 2021
- China exported $15 billion seafood in 2021
- Iceland exports 80% of catch mainly to EU
- Peru fishmeal exports 1.2 million tonnes in 2021
- Russia crab exports to China $1 billion
- Morocco sardine exports 80% of production
- Global frozen fish market $120 billion in 2022
- Salmon trade volume 2.5 million tonnes in 2021
- Tuna canned market $40 billion globally
- Aquaculture products 51% of trade by volume in 2020
- Developing countries export 53% of global fish trade
Trade and Market Statistics Interpretation
While the world's oceans are a shared pantry, the bill of fare is written by a complex global market where developing nations supply over half the catch, aquaculture now dominates the plate, and every country from Norway to Vietnam is angling for a piece of a $120 billion frozen fish pie.
Sources & References
- Reference 1FAOfao.orgVisit source
- Reference 2FISHERIESfisheries.noaa.govVisit source
- Reference 3ECec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 4STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 5SEAFOODseafood.noVisit source
- Reference 6WORLDBANKworldbank.orgVisit source
- Reference 7OURWORLDINDATAourworldindata.orgVisit source
- Reference 8PEWTRUSTSpewtrusts.orgVisit source