Aquaculture's 60 year surge has global fish production at an all-time high

News 15:35 13/09/2014
Global fish production has reached

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, an estimated 53 percent of fisheries are considered fully exploited - harvested to their maximum sustainable levels - with no room for expansion in production. Population growth and a higher demand for dietary protein are putting increasing pressure on depleted stocks and threatened ecosystems. Mainstream approaches to fisheries management have focused narrowly on short-term profit and boosting production. Worldwatch's analysis states that practices will need to shift to more sustainable strategies to meet demand and support fishing communities.

Increased farming of large predators, such as salmon and tuna, has led to overfishing of prey fish, including anchoveta and herring, which are commonly used as fishmeal. It generally takes at least three kilograms of feed to produce one kilogram of salmon. The shrinking of the numbers of prey species threatens the entire food chain, putting further stress on large predator stocks. "Even as we depend more on farmed fish, a growing scarcity of fish-feed may jeopardize future expansion of the industry," said Brian Halweil, Worldwatch senior researcher and co-project director of the Institute's Nourishing the Planet project, a two-year evaluation of agricultural innovations.

This could also negatively affect the economies of developing countries, home to the nearly 60 percent of the world's fishers that are classified as small-scale commercial or subsistence fishers. In Africa, an estimated 100 million people depend on fish from inland sources, such as lakes and rivers, for income as well as protein and much-needed micronutrients like vitamin A, calcium, iron, and zinc. But coastal fisheries across West Africa have declined by up to 50 percent in the last 30 years due to significant pressure from large industrial fleets.

Fisheries also provide important ecosystem services, such as storing and recycling nutrients and absorbing pollutants. "Fish farmers and the food industry will need to make ecological restoration as much a goal as meeting the growing demand for seafood," said Danielle Nierenberg, Nourishing the Planet co-project director.

Negotiations are currently under way at the World Trade Organization to establish new rules on fisheries subsidies that would eliminate unfair and environmentally destructive policies while ensuring a level playing-field and abundant resources for all fishers. But top-down fisheries management has had limited success in the past. In contrast, fisheries co-managed by local authorities and fishers themselves have emerged as a promising solution to replenishing depleting fish stocks.

In 2007, a group of Gambian women oyster harvesters formed the TRY Women's Oyster Harvesting Association. They have collectively agreed to close one tributary in their oyster territories for an entire year and to shorten their harvest season by two months. These practices may seem difficult in the short run, but they pay off over time, securing incomes and nutrition in their communities.

Worldwatch's Nourishing the Planet project has traveled to 25 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, shining a spotlight on communities that serve as models for a more sustainable future. The project is unearthing innovations in agriculture that can help alleviate hunger and poverty while also protecting the environment. These innovations are elaborated in the recently released report State of the World 2011: Innovations that Nourish the Planet. "By focusing on seafood and other often-ignored parts of the food chain, such efforts can help improve livelihoods and protect the ecosystems on which millions of people worldwide depend," said Nierenberg.

TIN MỚI CẬP NHẬT

Top Vietnamese pangasius exporting companies over the past decade

 |  09:12 25/02/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Between 2015 and 2024, Vietnamese pangasius exporting enterprises have undergone notable transformations in rankings and experienced fluctuations in developmental strategies, competitive intensity, and business efficacy. This dynamic is clearly illustrated through shifts in export turnover and the proportional contribution to the national pangasius export volume among the Top 5 enterprises.

Vietnam’s seafood exports in January 2025: Remarks and Forecast

 |  09:21 21/02/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The outlook for Vietnam’s seafood exports remains positive, with a strong focus on maintaining growth in key markets like China and the U.S., while diversifying into new regions. As global trade policies continue to evolve, adaptability and strategic planning will be key to navigating the challenges ahead.

Vĩnh Hoàn posts record profit in Q4 2024, highest in 6 quarters

 |  08:50 19/02/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Thanks to improved pangasius prices and higher production, Vĩnh Hoàn's after-tax profit in Q4 2024 reached VND 440 billion, a 4.8-fold increase compared to the same period last year.

Which market will be the top importer of vietnam’s pangasius in 2025?

 |  09:18 17/02/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to data from Vietnam’s Customs, in Q4 2024, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to China & Hong Kong reached USD 163 million, a 17% increase compared to the same period in 2023, with consistent growth across all months. The total value of pangasius exports to China & Hong Kong for 2024 reached USD 581 million, a 1% increase over the previous year.

Vietnam’s seafood exports expected to hit 11 billion USD in 2025

 |  09:13 13/02/2025

Vietnam’s seafood exports are projected to maintain strong growth this year, potentially reaching 11 billion USD.

Vietnam’s surimi exports make a remarkable turnaround in the last quarter of 2024

 |  08:47 11/02/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the final quarter of 2024, Vietnam’s surimi and fish cake exports showed consistent growth over the last three months. For the entire year 2024, exports of these products reached USD 298 million, down 2% compared to 2023. However, the final quarter saw more promising signs for the surimi and fish cake export sector, with some markets experiencing notable growth, such as Thailand, China, and Taiwan. Particularly, exports to Taiwan, which had seen continuous declines in the previous two quarters, surged by 301% in this quarter.

What will drive Vietnam's pangasius exports in 2025?

 |  09:35 07/02/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Another year of pride for Vietnam's pangasius exports has concluded, reaching over USD 2 billion and contributing 20% to Vietnam's total seafood export turnover.

Vietnam secures top five spot in Singapore's seafood market

 |  08:39 06/02/2025

Vietnam maintained its position as the fifth-largest seafood exporter to Singapore for 12 consecutive months, surpassing Japan for the first time in 2024, amid the intensifying competition in this market.

Vietnam's canned tuna exports still increase by 17% in 2024

 |  08:59 05/02/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Despite facing numerous challenges in the second half of the year, Vietnam's canned tuna exports concluded 2024 with a 17% increase compared to 2023, reaching USD 299 million. To maintain this growth momentum in 2025, the canned tuna production and export sector requires coordinated efforts from all stakeholders.

Seafood sector profits forecast to surge in 2025

 |  11:10 31/01/2025

SSI forecasts a 28% year-on-year increase in after-tax profit attributable to the parent company of Vinh Hoan Corporation (VHC), driven by a gradual improvement in average selling prices from USD 3.15/kg in 2024 to USD 3.30/kg (+5%) in 2025. An Giang Fisheries Import-Export Joint Stock Company (ANV)'s after-tax profit attributable to the parent company is projected to rebound by 104%.

VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM

Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội

Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO

Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu

Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông

Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn

Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh

Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn

VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội

Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn

© Copyright 2020 - Mọi hình thức sao chép phải được sự chấp thuận bằng văn bản của VASEP