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
1The global fishing industry was valued at $401 billion in 2022
Verified2Aquaculture contributed $285 billion to global GDP in 2020
Verified3Capture fisheries generated $116 billion in revenue in 2020
Verified4US commercial fishing industry worth $5.8 billion in 2022
Directional5Norway's seafood industry exports reached €15.3 billion in 2022
Single source6China's fishing industry GDP contribution was $150 billion in 2020
Verified7Global fish trade value hit $164 billion in 2020
Verified8EU fisheries sector GDP was €25 billion in 2021
Verified9Alaska seafood industry generated $5.8 billion in 2022
Directional10Vietnam's aquaculture exports valued at $2.3 billion in 2021
Single source11India's marine fisheries worth INR 1 trillion in 2020
Verified12Global shrimp market revenue was $70 billion in 2022
Verified13Salmon farming industry valued at $20 billion globally in 2022
Verified14Japan's seafood imports cost $15 billion in 2021
Directional15Peru's fishmeal industry revenue $2.5 billion in 2021
Single source16Thailand's seafood exports reached $6.9 billion in 2021
Verified17World Bank estimates fisheries poverty reduction impact at 540 million people
Verified18Iceland's fishing sector contributes 25% to exports worth €2 billion
Verified19Chile salmon industry exports $5.5 billion in 2022
Directional20Global tuna market size $42 billion in 2022
Single source21Ecuador's shrimp exports $6.1 billion in 2021
Verified22Morocco's fisheries exports €2.2 billion in 2021
Verified23Russia's seafood exports $8 billion in 2022
Verified24Bangladesh fish exports $0.5 billion in 2020
Directional25Philippines tuna industry $1.2 billion in 2021
Single sourceEconomic 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
1Global employment in fisheries and aquaculture was 59.5 million in 2020
Verified2Aquaculture employed 23 million people full-time equivalent in 2020
Verified3Capture fisheries provided jobs for 36.5 million in 2020
Verified4Women comprise 50% of primary aquaculture workforce globally
Directional5US fishing industry employed 1.2 million people in 2022
Single source6Small-scale fishers number 40 million worldwide in 2020
Verified7Indonesia fisheries employ 7.5 million people
Verified8China has 14 million fishers in capture fisheries
Verified9India employs 14 million in fisheries sector
Directional10Vietnam aquaculture jobs total 4.5 million
Single source11Bangladesh fisheries provide 11% of employment
Verified12EU fisheries direct jobs 135,000 in 2021
Verified13Norway seafood industry employs 35,000
Verified14Alaska fisheries support 48,000 jobs
Directional15Philippines fisheries employ 1.6 million
Single source16Thailand has 500,000 fishers
Verified17Peru fisheries jobs 100,000 direct
Verified18Japan fishing workforce 150,000 in 2020
Verified19Chile salmon farming employs 60,000
Directional20Small-scale fisheries employ 90% of global fishers
Single source21Africa fisheries jobs 12 million
Verified22Asia dominates with 85% of fisheries employment
Verified23Youth under 25 are 25% of fishers in developing countries
VerifiedEmployment 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
1Global capture fisheries production reached 90.3 million tonnes in 2020
Verified2Aquaculture production worldwide hit 87.5 million tonnes in 2020
Verified3China led global aquaculture production with 52.2 million tonnes in 2020
Verified4Norway's salmon aquaculture production was 1.5 million tonnes in 2021
Directional5Global fish production totalled 178.8 million tonnes in 2020
Single source6Inland capture fisheries produced 11.8 million tonnes in 2020
Verified7Marine capture fisheries yielded 78.5 million tonnes in 2020
Verified8Indonesia's capture fisheries production was 7.8 million tonnes in 2020
Verified9Peru's anchoveta catch reached 2.0 million tonnes in 2021
Directional10US commercial landings totalled 4.8 million tonnes in 2022
Single source11Alaska pollock landings were 1.3 million tonnes in 2022
Verified12EU capture fisheries production was 3.4 million tonnes in 2021
Verified13Japan's tuna catch amounted to 0.4 million tonnes in 2020
Verified14Vietnam aquaculture production grew to 4.5 million tonnes in 2020
Directional15Bangladesh inland fisheries produced 4.2 million tonnes in 2020
Single source16Chile's salmon production was 0.8 million tonnes in 2021
Verified17India's marine capture was 4.1 million tonnes in 2020
Verified18Thailand's shrimp aquaculture output was 0.3 million tonnes in 2020
Verified19Russia's pollock catch hit 1.4 million tonnes in 2021
Directional20Egypt's aquaculture production reached 2.0 million tonnes in 2020
Single source21Global seaweed aquaculture was 35.1 million tonnes in 2020
Verified22Iran's capture fisheries produced 1.2 million tonnes in 2020
Verified23Philippines aquaculture output was 1.8 million tonnes in 2020
Verified24Morocco's sardine catch was 0.9 million tonnes in 2021
Directional25Turkey's aquaculture production grew to 0.8 million tonnes in 2020
Single source26Myanmar's inland capture was 1.4 million tonnes in 2020
Verified27South Korea's capture production was 0.7 million tonnes in 2020
Verified28Ecuador's tuna catch reached 0.6 million tonnes in 2021
Verified29Global carp aquaculture dominated with 25 million tonnes in 2020
Directional30Nigeria's inland fisheries produced 1.1 million tonnes in 2020
Single sourceProduction 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
135% of global stocks fished at unsustainable levels in 2020
Verified264% of fish stocks assessed as sustainably fished in 2020
Verified3Overfished stocks increased to 37% globally since 1970s
Verified4Bycatch represents 10% of global catch annually
Directional5Illegal fishing accounts for 11-26% of catch worth $23 billion
Single source6Marine protected areas cover 8% of oceans protecting fisheries
Verified7Aquaculture growth rate 5.8% annually 2001-2020
Verified8Fish provides 20% of animal protein in low-income countries
Verified9Climate change projected to reduce catches 3% by 2050
Directional1090% of large predatory fish populations declined since 1950
Single source11EU discards reduced to 1% due to landing obligation
Verified12Tuna stocks 30% overfished in Pacific
Verified13Mangrove loss 35% since 1980 impacts shrimp farming
Verified14Farmed fish feed conversion ratio improved to 1.5:1
Directional15Ghost fishing from lost gear kills 640,000 tonnes yearly
Single source1658 million tonnes of fish used for reduction to meal/oil
Verified17Coral reef fisheries support 6 million tonnes catch
Verified18Acidification threatens shellfish production by 2050
Verified19Sustainable certifications cover 20% of wild catch
Directional20Inland fisheries underreported by 50%
Single source21Plastic pollution affects 80% of marine mammals impacting fisheries
Verified22Rebuilding stocks could increase production by 35 million tonnes
VerifiedSustainability 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
1Global fish trade volume was 28.2 million tonnes in 2020
Verified2Fish accounted for 17% of global animal protein supply in 2020
Verified3China imported $20 billion in seafood in 2021
Verified4US seafood imports total $25 billion annually
Directional5Norway exported seafood to 90 countries worth €15 billion in 2022
Single source6Vietnam top shrimp exporter with 20% global share
Verified7EU imported 5.7 million tonnes of fish in 2021
Verified8Japan consumes 50 kg fish per capita annually
Verified9Global per capita fish consumption 20.7 kg in 2020
Directional10Ecuador banana trade but shrimp $6 billion exports
Single source11Thailand frozen seafood exports 600,000 tonnes yearly
Verified12India frozen shrimp exports 0.6 million tonnes in 2021
Verified13China exported $15 billion seafood in 2021
Verified14Iceland exports 80% of catch mainly to EU
Directional15Peru fishmeal exports 1.2 million tonnes in 2021
Single source16Russia crab exports to China $1 billion
Verified17Morocco sardine exports 80% of production
Verified18Global frozen fish market $120 billion in 2022
Verified19Salmon trade volume 2.5 million tonnes in 2021
Directional20Tuna canned market $40 billion globally
Single source21Aquaculture products 51% of trade by volume in 2020
Verified22Developing countries export 53% of global fish trade
VerifiedTrade 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