Rome/Mombasa, Kenya, 16 June 2026 — Global fisheries and aquaculture production reached a record 235 million tonnes in 2024, with aquaculture production of aquatic animals surpassing 100 million tonnes for the first time in history, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization's latest State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA 2026) report. The report was launched on Tuesday at the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya.
At $184 billion, trade in aquatic animal products continues to hit record highs and now rivals terrestrial meat trade in value. The sector supports over 600 million livelihoods worldwide and supplies at least one-fifth of the animal protein consumption of 3.1 billion people.
Record Production, Stabilized Wild Catch
SOFIA 2026 estimates that of the 235 million tonnes total production, 195 million tonnes were aquatic animals. The growth story is overwhelmingly driven by aquaculture: aquatic animal production from farming reached 103 million tonnes in 2024, valued at $371 billion at farm gate. Aquaculture now provides 53 percent of total aquatic animal production and over 59 percent of aquatic animal food output.
Wild capture fisheries, by contrast, have largely stabilized. Capture output of aquatic animals reached about 92 million tonnes in 2024 and has remained within the 86–94 million tonnes range since the late 1980s, reflecting ecological limits and effective management of some fishery stocks. Since the late 1980s, nearly all growth in aquatic production has come from aquaculture.
Notable Catch Data
Several specific data points from the report highlight the variability of wild fisheries:
- Tuna catches reached a record 9.3 million tonnes in 2024
- Anchoveta catches rebounded strongly, rising by 109 percent to over 5.0 million tonnes from 2.4 million tonnes in 2023
- Inland fisheries reached a record 12.3 million tonnes in 2024
- In 2023, 72.6 percent of all landings originated from biologically sustainable stocks
The Equity Gap
Despite rising availability, benefits remain deeply uneven. Per capita aquatic animal food supply averaged 21.1 kg globally in 2023, rising to an estimated 21.3 kg in 2024. However, in Asia the sector provides 26.3 kg per person, while availability in Africa is only 9.1 kg per individual — less than half the global average.
Growing Pressures
The report examines multiple threats facing the sector. Climate change, environmental degradation, economic shocks, and geopolitical shifts are affecting performance and sustainability. Under high emissions scenarios, exploitable fish biomass is projected to decline by over 10 percent by 2050 in several regions.
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu wrote in the report's Foreword: "The report illustrates that, more than ever before, a healthy planet requires a healthy ocean and healthy inland waters. We need to ensure that all necessary efforts are made to reverse the decline in sustainability and secure the long-term potential of the sector, for generations to come."
Aquatic Biosecurity and Disease
A growing concern highlighted in SOFIA 2026 is the threat from aquatic diseases. Because aquaculture production has surpassed 100 million tonnes globally, the economic impact of disease outbreaks has become substantial — estimated at approximately $10 billion in yearly losses. The FAO has explicitly called for strengthening aquatic biosecurity as an essential component of the One Health approach.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) linked to the improper use of antibiotics in aquaculture is identified as a major global health and food security concern. When antibiotics are used to manage recurring disease outbreaks, these treatments contribute to AMR, which poses risks that extend far beyond the aquaculture sector.
Blue Transformation Roadmap
FAO works with Members and partners through its Blue Transformation Roadmap 2022–2030 to improve sustainability, productivity, and inclusiveness. Key initiatives include:
| Area | FAO Approach |
|---|---|
| Aquaculture | Science-based governance, spatial planning, climate-smart systems (rice-fish farming, integrated aquaculture with renewable energy) |
| Capture fisheries | Stronger governance, better data, enhanced monitoring; combatting IUU fishing |
| Small-scale fisheries | Implementing Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries |
| Trade | Supporting complex supply chains, trade liberalization, competitive pricing |
Future Projections
FAO projects continued growth in production, consumption, and trade, with total aquatic animal production expected to reach 214 million tonnes by 2034. Including algae, aquaculture produced 141 million tonnes valued at $391 billion in 2024.
The report was launched at the 11th Our Ocean Conference, a platform that brings together governments, civil society, and industry to commit to ocean protection and sustainable use. The choice of venue underscores the increasingly central role of fisheries and aquaculture in broader ocean governance discussions.
Sources:
- FAO, SOFIA 2026: Global fisheries and aquaculture production reaches new highs, 16 June 2026
- FAO, The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2026, DOI: 10.4060/cd8357en
- FAO Blue Transformation Roadmap 2022–2030
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Institutional Research Desk · Foresight Institute of Research and Translation
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