The distribution of aquaculture production among countries is far from equitable, raising concerns about its potential to contribute to global food security and resilience.
To address this issue, researchers from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the University of Hawai’i have developed an innovative indicator system to evaluate the inclusivity and balance of the aquaculture industry’s development. By examining data from nearly 200 countries over five decades, this system provides valuable insights into the global aquaculture landscape.
A Global Imbalance
While some countries have experienced significant growth, others have lagged behind. The top 20 aquaculture-producing countries accounted for more than 95% of global expansion from 1970 to 2020, creating a significant imbalance in global aquaculture production. In 2020, 90% of global aquaculture production was concentrated in just 10 countries, with the largest individual producer contributing 57%.
This imbalance raises concerns about the sector’s sustainability and equity.
The Need for a More Balanced Approach
To address this issue, a more balanced approach to aquaculture development is needed. This involves:
- Promoting Diversification: Encouraging a wider range of species and production systems can reduce risks and enhance the sector’s overall sustainability.
- Supporting Small Producers: Investment in small-scale aquaculture can empower local communities and contribute to food security.
- Strengthening Governance and Regulations: Effective governance and regulation can help ensure responsible and sustainable aquaculture development.
- Promoting International Cooperation: Sharing knowledge and technology can help countries with less-developed aquaculture sectors catch up.
A New Perspective on Aquaculture Development
The indicator system, published in Scientific Reports, to evaluate inclusivity and balance in aquaculture development uses the “Effective Number of Countries” (ENC) as a key measure of production distribution, complemented by two additional indicators:
- Popularity: Measures the extent to which a particular aquaculture species or product is produced across a diverse range of countries.
- Parity: Assesses the balance of production among different countries, indicating whether a few dominant countries control the market or if production is more evenly distributed.
Key Findings
- Global Reach: Aquaculture has become a truly global industry, with almost 90% of countries participating in some form of aquaculture production.
- Unequal Distribution: Despite its global reach, aquaculture production remains concentrated in a relatively small number of countries. This imbalance limits the benefits of aquaculture to a select few, hindering its potential to alleviate poverty and food insecurity.
- Growth Potential: While significant progress has been made, substantial potential remains for increasing aquaculture popularity across various species groups and regions.
- Improving Balance: Over the past five decades, there has been a slight increase in the balance of aquaculture production among countries. However, global aquaculture parity remains significantly lower than that of capture fisheries and terrestrial meat production.
A Call for Inclusive Aquaculture
To fully realize aquaculture’s potential and ensure its contribution to global food security, it is imperative to promote more inclusive and balanced development. By adopting the proposed indicator system, policymakers and industry stakeholders can:
- Identify Disparities: Identify regions and countries with low levels of aquaculture development.
- Targeted Interventions: Develop specific policies and programs to support aquaculture growth in underserved areas.
- Foster Innovation: Encourage research and development to improve aquaculture technologies and practices.
- Strengthen Partnerships: Collaborate with local communities, governments, and international organizations to promote sustainable and equitable aquaculture.
Conclusion
Aquaculture has the potential to enhance global food security and resilience, but its growth has been unevenly distributed among countries. The proposed indicator system can help policymakers understand the distribution of aquaculture production and its impact on global food security and resilience.
By incorporating aquaculture popularity and parity as policy indicators, we can promote more inclusive and balanced development and unlock aquaculture’s potential to improve global food security and resilience.
Contact
Junning Cai
Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153, Rome, Italy
Email: junning.cai@fao.org
Reference (open access)
Cai, J., Leung, P. Popularity and parity assessment for more inclusive and balanced aquaculture development. Sci Rep 14, 25317 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-68325-7
