Global production of aquatic animals for human
consumption from aquaculture continued to grow
substantially in the past decade,
reaching the annual
production level of 55.7 million tonnes in 2009 from 32.4
million tonnes in 2000.
Aquaculture has been the fastestgrowing animal food producing sector.
Aquaculture
contributed nearly half (47.3 percent) of the world’s food fish
consumption, up from 33.8 percent in 2000.
With stagnating
global capture fishery production and an increasing
population,
aquaculture is perceived as having the greatest
potential to produce more fish in the future to meet the
growing demand for safe and quality aquatic food.