- FAO is working with countries to reshape agrifood systems, noting that the cost of nutritious diets exceeds average incomes.
- FAO monitors global production volumes and trends in aquatic animal production, noting the sector provides essential protein for global diets.
FAO Committee Discusses Future Demand for Wild Fish Feed in Aquaculture
What happened
The Committee on Fisheries met at FAO headquarters in Rome to assess future demand for wild fish feed. The meeting featured a report from the U.K.-based NGO The Changing Markets Foundation, which laid out several scenarios for the aquaculture sector’s expansion through 2040. The scenarios suggest that if high-impact aquaculture, such as salmon and shrimp production, expands, the demand for wild-caught fish could reach 46% of global catches. A senior FAO official noted that the organization's goal is to grow the sector by 35% by 2030, not 75% as published in a 2023 document.
From mongabay.com
Why it matters
The discussion focused on the potential strain on global resources as the aquaculture industry expands. The report indicated that if low-impact aquaculture expands, the reliance on wild-caught fish could increase to 13% of global catches. The meeting also involved an already heated debate between the FAO and representatives of small-scale fisheries.
FAO monitors global production volumes and trends in aquatic animal production, noting the sector provides essential protein for global diets.
From mongabay.com