As aquaculture hits historic highs, let’s ensure sustainability is prioritized (commentary)

Just two years ago, global consumption of aquatic animal foods soared to an estimated 165 million tons, growing at nearly twice the annual rate of the world population since 1961. Ensuring the sustainable and responsible production of aquatic foods should be standard practice. But how close are we to the mark?

The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) Report, published every two years by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, is a vital resource for understanding the current state of our fisheries and oceans and offers important insights into aquatic food production. The report’s credible methodology and the collaborative efforts of global experts who contribute to its findings play a crucial role in shaping policies and practices in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.

The newly published 2024 edition of the SOFIA report highlights significant milestones. According to the FAO, world fisheries and aquaculture production has surged to an all-time high of 223.2 million tons, marking a 4.4% increase from 2020. And for the first time aquaculture production alone reached 94.4 million tons in 2022, overtaking traditional capture fisheries in its contribution to human consumption.

This remarkable growth underscores the urgency to address issues critical to the health of our oceans to help ensure future food security for people all around the world. This is more important now than ever since recent data shows one in 10 Americans say they are eating more fish. By choosing to buy sustainably produced seafood, consumers can help protect ocean health.

Younger shoppers are knowledgeable and concerned about the impact their purchases have on the environment, and they are adjusting their diets accordingly. Third-party verification labels, such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) blue label, can guide consumers looking to purchase sustainable food. Recent data from research consultancy GlobeScan, on behalf of MSC, showed that almost half of consumers who were changing their diets were doing so because of environmental concerns, alongside health and price.

Even as world fisheries and aquaculture production hit a new high in 2022, the FAO report also documents pressing challenges that need immediate attention. Over a third of marine fish stocks are overfished, a trend that is worsening over time, with a 2.3 percentage point increase over the past two years compared to 2020. That’s almost double the increase seen in the previous reporting period.

That means more fish are being harvested at an unsustainable rate, which can reduce future productivity. For communities reliant on fishing, stock collapses can be devastating. Overfishing is also a concern for the wild marine environment as it is one of the major causes of the loss of ocean biodiversity.

See related: Catching fish to feed fish: Report details ‘unsustainable’ fishmeal and oil industry

We know that fishery conservation policies and management are effective in reversing these trends; moreover, they are essential as aquatic animal production is expected to increase by 10% by 2032. In 2022 the FAO established the Blue Transformation Roadmap, a plan of action to ensure sustainable fisheries and aquaculture growth while promoting equitable benefits and environmental conservation.

To protect our oceans, we must ensure sustainable fisheries are prioritized and resourced. Today, 550 wild capture fisheries around the world have been certified sustainable according to the rigorous standard set by my organization — the Marine Stewardship Council — that includes 84% of U.S. landed fisheries. That’s good news because we know what works: science-based management regimes, rules that limit how much of a certain stock can be caught, and ending illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing. This work is part of a solution that already exists to address the environmental and social challenges facing the global seafood industry.

Thanks to key policies like the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, the U.S. is already leading the way globally in sustainable seafood practices, but more needs to be done.

We are calling on leaders in the policy and business communities to implement and enforce sustainable seafood policies across the board so we can achieve sustainable fishing and healthy oceans for future generations. Our collective efforts will influence preserving marine life and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the seafood we rely on to secure a thriving ocean ecosystem.

Erika Feller is the Americas lead for the Marine Stewardship Council, a global non-profit dedicated to encouraging sustainable fishing.

Related audio from Mongabay’s podcast: Indigenous communities have practiced aquaculture for millennia, listen here:

See related coverage of the SOFIA report:

For the first time ever, we’re farming more seafood than we’re catching: FAO

Restoring Indigenous aquaculture heals both ecosystems and communities in Hawai‘i