OVERVIEW OF GLOBAL AQUACULTURE

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the current stage of global aquaculture development as a key component of the world fisheries sector. Based on FAO statistical data, it reveals the dynamics and structural evolution of aquaculture production during 2000–2022, tracing the transition from traditional fishing to controlled systems of aquatic organism cultivation. The study identifies the scale of the industry’s growth (more than a threefold increase over two decades), highlights the dominance of Asia—which accounts for over 91% of global output—and examines the roles of Africa and Latin America as the most rapidly developing regions. Production indicators in the sectors of aquatic animal and algae farming are detailed, along with a characterization of the species composition, regional distribution, and growth rates.

Special attention is given to structural differences between inland and marine (coastal) aquaculture, the diversity of species composition, and the geographical concentration of production. It is shown that inland aquaculture accounts for approximately 62% of global output, while marine aquaculture represents 38%, with fish dominating the former and mollusks the latter. The paper also emphasizes the growing strategic importance of algae as a resource for food and environmental security. Regional comparisons of production shares and growth rates are presented, supported by visual data confirming Asia’s central role in global aquaculture.

It is concluded that modern aquaculture is a highly concentrated, technology-driven, and strategically significant sector that shapes the structure of the global food system of the 21st century, facilitating the transition from capture fisheries to sustainable production based on innovation, government support, and international cooperation.