São Paulo – Fish farming is growing rapidly worldwide, according to report “World Aquaculture 2010,” issued by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). According to the survey, fish farming production grew by over 60% over a eight-year period. In 2000, 32.4 million tonnes of fish were produced through farming, a figure that reached 52.5 million tonnes in 2008.
The FAO forecasts that from 2012 onward, over half the fish consumption will originate from animals raised and fished in farms rather than the sea. “With stagnating global capture fishery production and an increasing population, aquaculture is perceived as having the greatest potential to produce more fish in the future to meet the growing demand for safe and quality aquatic food,” the report claims.
Proudction is growing, but still concentrates in certain areas of the globe. In 2008, the Asia-Pacifict region accounted for 89.1% of fish farming production. China alone accounted for 62.3% of worldwide production. Of the 15 leading fish farming countries, 11 are located in the Asia-Pacific region.
Small fish farmers led fish production, however in Latin America the majority of farmers are large enterprises. Small and medium farmers are the leading suppliers of fish to Africa, which intends to increase its production in the coming ten years, according to the FAO.
