GTFS: Global Trends and Future Scenarios Index

The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2010

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Forward Excerpt

As the world endeavours to recover from the combined impact of a global food price crisis, financial crash and economic recession, many hundreds of millions of people are facing increased uncertainty and real hunger. It is in this context that The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2010 aims to provide all concerned with an informed, comprehensive, balanced and worldwide view of fisheries, aquaculture and related issues.

This publication reveals that the per-capita supply of fish as human food reached a new all-time high in 2008, underscoring the key role of the sector in providing income for subsistence and small-scale fishers and food for billions of consumers who benefit from an excellent source of affordable, high-quality animal protein – protein that is particularly important for mothers-to-be and young children. Although the rate of global aquaculture growth is falling, aquaculture remains the fastest-growing animal-food-producing sector, now accounting for almost half of total food fish supply. While The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2010 makes the point that world capture fisheries production has been relatively stable in the past decade, it does voice concern about the state of stocks exploited by marine capture fisheries.

Árni M. Mathiesen
Assistant Director-General
FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department