Historic Milestone: Aquatic Animal Farming Surpasses Wild Fishing in 2022

The United Nations reported that the global volume of aquatic animals harvested by farming has surpassed the amount fished in the wild for the first time. In 2022, over 185 million tons of aquatic animals were harvested globally, with aquaculture benefiting from nutritional benefits and lesser environmental impact compared to land animals. The total amount of aquatic animals captured in the wild decreased, while global production increased. Asia accounted for over 90% of all aquaculture production, with most aquatic animals going to human consumption. Commonly captured fish include Peruvian anchovies, skipjack tuna, Alaskan pollock, freshwater carp, oysters, clams, shrimp, tilapia, and prawns.