Courtesy of SeafoodSource:
The United Nations and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) anticipate global seafood consumption to continue to grow over the next decade, although not as fast as it has in recent years.
According to a recent joint report published by OECD and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, fish and shellfish consumption is expected to grow from 20.4-kilograms per capita to 21.2 kilograms per capita in the next ten years. The report also predicts a 12 percent increase in production, reaching 202 million metric tons (MT) by 2032.
Still, there will be a slowdown in growth, reflecting lower demand from Asia, where Chinese policy changes that favor sustainable fisheries are expected to have an impact. El Niño weather patterns and higher fuel costs also will affect production, the report states. Africa is the only continent that the report claims will see a decline in consumption.
The report notes aquaculture will play a major part in growing seafood consumption, with FAO and OECD leaders urging governments to adopt more sustainable policies.
“The broad trends outlined in this report are heading in the right direction, but need to be accelerated,” FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said in a statement. “Promoting a faster shift to sustainable agrifood systems will bring many benefits and help usher in better lives for all, leaving no one behind.”
Aquaculture harvests will grow 22 percent to 111 million MT, accounting for 55 percent of total fish production by 2032.
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