19 May 2014: Fisheries and aquaculture are playing an increasing role in feeding the world and provide livelihoods for over 10% of the global population, according to the ‘State of the World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2014.’ However, the report, produced by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), cautions that illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing continues to threaten marine ecosystems as well as local economies, food supplies and livelihoods.

“Global fish production continues to outpace world population growth,” according to the report, which underscores the potential of fisheries and aquaculture to meet the nutrition demands of a growing population. Fisheries and aquaculture production is 158 million tons globally, an increase of 10 million tons since 2012. Fish makes up nearly 17% of the global population’s protein intake, and accounts for more than 70% of protein intake among some coastal and island populations.

However, the report cautions that aquaculture needs to become less dependent on wild fish feed to grow sustainably. It also recommends introducing greater diversity in farmed culture species and practices, and draws attention to the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries in boosting the sector’s contribution to food security, habitat conservation, poverty alleviation and human well-being. The report also illustrates the contribution of fisheries and fish farming to local economies, noting that 90% of fishers are small scale and 15% are women.

“The health of our planet as well as our own health and future food security all hinge on how we treat the blue world,” said FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva. Within this context, the report notes that over 70% of wild fish stocks regularly monitored by FAO are fished within biologically sustainable levels, yet stocks of the ten most productive species are fully fished and some are overfished.

The report features three sections. Section one presents a world review of fisheries and aquaculture. Section two focuses on selected issues, including: aquaculture’s role in improving nutrition; post-harvest losses in small-scale fisheries; shark conservation and management; and IUU fishing. Section three highlights special studies on: fish consumption in the Asia-Pacific region; the Voluntary Guidelines on the Governance of Tenure of Land, Forests and Fisheries; and assessments of vulnerabilities to climate change in fisheries and aquaculture. [FAO Press Release] [UN Press Release] [Publication: The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture] [Report Highlights] [Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries]