FAO Report Highlights the Growing Importance of Aquaculture to Seafood Supply, Trade and Food Security
The global seafood industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation, with aquaculture now supplying more than half of the world’s aquatic animal production. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), aquaculture produced a record 103 million metric tons of aquatic animals in 2024, representing 53% of global production. Wild-capture fisheries contributed approximately 92 million metric tons.
The findings, published in the FAO’s State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2026 report, underscore the increasingly interconnected roles of farmed and wild-caught seafood in meeting global food demand.
Total fisheries and aquaculture production reached approximately 235 million metric tons in 2024. Including algae, aquaculture accounted for 141 million metric tons of production valued at approximately $391 billion. Aquatic animal foods remain an important source of nutrition worldwide, while the broader sector supports more than 600 million livelihoods.
For California’s seafood industry, these developments have implications extending beyond fish farming. They affect how seafood is sourced, processed, marketed, transported and presented to consumers in a marketplace increasingly shaped by international trade and evolving expectations around sustainability.
Aquaculture and Wild Fisheries Are Both Essential to the Seafood Supply
Aquaculture’s growing contribution does not diminish the importance of commercial fisheries. Wild-caught seafood remains an essential part of the global food system, supporting fishing communities, processors, distributors, restaurants and retailers. Farmed seafood adds production capacity that helps meet demand as wild-capture output has largely plateaued.
The FAO estimates that aquaculture supplied more than 59% of aquatic animal foods destined for human consumption in 2024. The difference between that figure and aquaculture’s 53% share of total production reflects the distinction between total output and the portion ultimately available for food.
This changing balance creates opportunities for a more diversified seafood supply. Farmed and wild-caught products can serve different markets and consumer preferences, and both depend on effective resource management, food safety, reliable logistics and consumer confidence.
For California businesses, the key issue is how to navigate a market in which domestic production, imported seafood and international supply chains increasingly influence one another. Understanding the origin, production method, regulatory status and market positioning of seafood products remains important for maintaining competitiveness.
International Trade Is Reshaping Seafood Markets
Global seafood trade continues to play a major role in determining product availability and pricing. The FAO’s 2026 report puts international trade in aquatic products at approximately $186 billion in 2024, with more than one-third of global aquatic animal production crossing international borders before reaching consumers.
These trade flows create opportunities for exporters and importers, but they also expose seafood businesses to disruptions involving transportation, tariffs, currency movements, geopolitical tensions, changing regulations and shifting consumer demand.
California’s seafood sector must operate within this international marketplace while responding to local and national requirements. Businesses that rely on imported raw materials or finished products may be affected by changes in overseas production, freight costs and trade policy. Domestic harvesters and seafood processors, meanwhile, compete for market access and consumer attention in a supply environment where products can originate from numerous countries and production systems.
Traceability, dependable sourcing and clear product information can help businesses manage these challenges. They also support efforts to maintain consumer confidence and distinguish products based on quality, origin, production practices and reliability of supply.
Sustainability Remains Central to the Industry’s Future
The global production milestone comes with important environmental considerations. The FAO continues to identify overfishing, climate change, aquatic ecosystem degradation and pollution as challenges facing the sector.
According to the report, 72.6% of global marine fishery landings in 2023 came from biologically sustainable stocks when weighted by catch volume. However, 62.4% of assessed marine fish stocks were classified as biologically sustainable, down from 64.5% in 2021. These measurements use different methods: the landings figure gives greater weight to high-volume fisheries, while the stock figure counts assessed stocks.
The distinction matters when communicating seafood sustainability. Global averages can obscure substantial differences among species, regions and fisheries, and they should not be used to characterize every fishery or seafood product in the same way.
Aquaculture also faces environmental challenges, including disease management, water availability, waste management and climate-related risks. Responsible growth in both sectors will depend on sound science, effective management and continued investment in practical solutions.
For seafood businesses, sustainability is not simply a production issue. It can influence sourcing decisions, market access, purchasing requirements, brand reputation and the information consumers expect to receive about seafood products.
Consumer Confidence and Accurate Communication Matter
As aquaculture becomes more prominent in the global seafood supply, clear communication about farmed and wild-caught products is increasingly important. Consumers may encounter conflicting claims about environmental impacts, feed ingredients, seafood safety and the relative benefits of different production methods.
The appropriate response is to provide accurate, evidence-based information rather than treating all seafood production systems as interchangeable. Environmental performance varies by species, production method, location and management practices. The same is true of wild fisheries, where stock conditions and management effectiveness differ substantially.
For California’s seafood industry, maintaining trust means supporting transparent sourcing, appropriate food-safety practices, accurate labeling and responsible environmental stewardship. It also means recognizing the complementary roles that commercial fisheries and aquaculture can play in providing nutritious food and supporting jobs.
Looking Ahead for California’s Seafood Sector
The FAO’s findings confirm that aquaculture is now a major pillar of the global seafood economy. As production and trade continue to evolve, California’s harvesters, processors, distributors, retailers and other seafood businesses will need to adapt to changing supply patterns while maintaining high standards for quality, safety and responsible sourcing.
For industry stakeholders, the priority is to ensure that California remains competitive in a changing marketplace, that seafood supply chains remain resilient, and that public discussion reflects the complexity of both farmed and wild-caught seafood.