Global per-capita fish consumption surged beyond 20 kilograms (44 pounds) in 2014, thanks to the booming aquaculture industry, and rising demand, in China and elsewhere, according to a report by the UN’s Food and Agriculture organization.
“Whereas aquaculture provided only 7 percent of fish for human consumption in 1974, this share had increased to 26 percent in 1994 and 39 percent in 2004,” said the State of the World Fisheries and Aquaculture. By 2014, global aquaculture amounted to 73.8 tonnes, worth $160.2 billion. China, with its 14 million fishermen and fish farmers, accounted for 60 percent, or 45.4 million tonnes, of that total.
“In addition to the increase in production, other factors that have contributed to rising consumption include reductions in wastage, better utilization,improved distribution channels, and growing demand linked to population growth, rising incomes and urbanization,” said FAO. “International trade has also played an important role in providing wider choices to consumers.”
The trend of rising fish consumption is projected to continue. People will eat an estimated 146 million tonnes of fish in 2016, 10 million more than in 2014.