The State of World Fisheries And Aquaculture 2008(FAQ)

A milestone may be near. After growing steadily, particularly in the last four decades, aquaculture is for the first time set to contribute half of the fish consumed by the human population worldwide. This reflects not only the vitality of the aquaculture sector but also global economic growth and continuing developments in fish processing and trade.

Until a year or so ago, the production trends in aquaculture and capture fisheries were continuing without any drastic modification to those already in place at the start of this decade. The capture fisheries sector was regularly producing between 90 and 95 million tonnes per year, and aquaculture production was growing rapidly, albeit at a gradually declining rate.

However, the substantial increases in energy and food prices, which started in 2007 and have continued into 2008, as well as the threat of climate change, mean that the conditions for capture fisheries and aquaculture are changing. That said, the combined effects of rising prices and climate change are complex, and they affect a very large number of fisheries and aquaculture operations in a mosaic of natural, social and economic contexts. Hence, it is too early to have a clear understanding of the cumulative impact worldwide on fisheries and

Nonetheless, it is clear that there will be both winners and losers among fishers, aquaculturists and those employed in ancillary industries. On the one hand, rising prices for staple foods will also cause an increase in the price of many fish and fish products, and this will stimulate all in the sector to produce more. However, those who capture or culture fish, or other aquatic animals, using energy-intensive forms of production may find recent cost increases prohibitive. They may well face difficulties in continuing in their occupation, at least in the immediate future. On the other hand, low-intensity aquaculture and most small-scale and artisanal fisheries will attempt to expand production. This will increase the importance of improved governance in both aquaculture and low-energy-consuming fisheries (some near-shore fisheries, passive fishing gear, etc.).........

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