By 2030 an additional 37 million tonnes of fish per year will be needed to maintain current levels of fish consumption for an expanded world population. Because traditional capture fisheries have reached their maximum production levels, fish farming represents the only way to fill the gap. But it will only do so if it is promoted and managed in a responsible fashion.
This was the message FAO gave to a group of the world’s top fisheries authorities* gathered in Rome for a high level meeting on the contribution of aquaculture to sustainable development.