(fis.com) FAO's latest flagship publication on the state of fisheries and aquaculture reveals that the sector produced a record 128 million tonnes of fish for human consumption, providing about 15 percent of their animal protein intake to 4,300 million people.
The report also highlights that fisheries and aquaculture are also a source of income for 55 million people.
"Fisheries and aquaculture play a vital role in the global, national and rural economy," stated FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva.
"The livelihoods of 12 percent of the world's population depend directly or indirectly on them. Fisheries and aquaculture give an important contribution to food security and nutrition. They are the primary source of protein for 17 percent of the world's population and nearly a quarter in the case of low-income food-deficit countries," he added
Árni M. Mathiesen, head of FAO's Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, said: “Fisheries and aquaculture are making a vital contribution to global food security and economic growth. However, the sector faces an array of problems, including poor governance, weak fisheries management regimes, conflicts over the use of natural resources and the persistent use of poor fishery and aquaculture practices.”
In FAO’s report governments are urged to make every effort to ensure sustainable fisheries around the world.
According to the latest statistics available, almost 30 percent of these fish stocks are overexploited, about 57 percent are fully exploited – that is to say, at or very close to their maximum sustainable production --, and only about 13 percent are non-fully exploited.
The report by the Organization adds: "Overexploitation not only causes negative ecological consequences, but it also reduces fish production, which leads to negative social and economic consequences."
To this end, the significance of launching “effective management plans to rebuild overexploited stocks" is highlighted.
As to the worldwide fishing production, capture fisheries and aquaculture supplied the world with about 148 million tonnes of fish in 2010 valued at USD 217.5 billion.
Production growth from aquaculture keeps outpacing population growth, and it is one of the fastest-growing animal food-producing sectors - trends that are set to continue.
The report notes that the coming decades are likely to see major changes in economies, markets, resources and social conduct.
For instance, it points out that climate change impacts will increase uncertainty in many food sectors, including fisheries.
It stresses the importance of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, and its associated international plans of action and technical guidelines to achieving the goal of a global sustainable food production system.
For FAO, the primary threats undermining the food and nutrition security potential of fisheries and aquaculture result principally from ineffective management coupled with poor conservation of habitats.
A transition towards people-centred approaches is required to enhance the sector's contribution to food and livelihoods security. As underlined at the recent UN Conference on Sustainable Development.
The report The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2012 was launched at the opening of the 30th session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries.