Reviews in Fisheries Science & Aquaculture

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Trends in Global Aquaculture and Aquafeed

Production: 2000–2017

Albert G. J. Tacon

To cite this article: Albert G. J. Tacon (2020) Trends in Global Aquaculture and Aquafeed Production:
2000–2017, Reviews in Fisheries Science & Aquaculture, 28:1, 43-56, DOI: 10.1080/23308249.2019.1649634

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/23308249.2019.1649634

Published online: 06 Sep 2019.

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REVIEWS IN FISHERIES SCIENCE &
AQUACULTURE 2020, VOL. 28, NO. 1, 43–56
https://doi.org/10.1080/23308249.2019.1649634
Trends in Global Aquaculture and Aquafeed Production: 2000–2017
Albert G. J. Tacon
AquaHana LLC, Kailua, Hawaii, USA
Global aquaculture production
Aquaculture (the farming of aquatic animals and
plants) continues to dominate aquatic food production
in Asia and globally (FAO 2019); over 91% of global
aquaculture production currently being produced
within the Asian region (102.9 million tonnes in
2017), and total global aquaculture production now
exceeding global capture fisheries production by over
18.32 million tonnes (Figure 1). Moreover, in contrast
to most terrestrial agricultural food production sys-
tems, over 95% of global aquaculture production is
currently realized within developing countries, with
production increasing within these countries at an
average annual rate of 6.13% per year (FAO 2019).
With total aquaculture production valued at over
US$250 billion, the aquaculture sector represents a
very diverse group of different aquatic plant and
animal species (328 species reported in 2017), rang-
ing from the production of unicellular Chlorella
algae within indoor bioreactors (Go€rs et al. 2010)
to
the production of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in
outdoor floating net cages; FAO 2019). As with cap-
ture fisheries, fish still represent the largest major
species group of aquaculture production by weight
(53.4 million tonnes or 47.7% total aquaculture), fol-
lowed by aquatic plants (31.8 million tonnes or
28.4% total), molluscs (17.4 million tonnes or 15.4%
total), crustaceans (8.4 million tonnes or 7.5% total),
amphibians and reptiles (471,784 tonnes) and miscel-
laneous invertebrate animals (422,124 tonnes; FAO
2019; Figure 2).
Aquaculture production—Fish
Total reported fish production was 53.4 million
tonnes in 2017, with fish production growing at an
average annual rate of 5.7% per year since 2000
(Figure 3), with over 208 different fish species
CONTACT Albert G. J. Tacon agjtacon@aquahana.com
Color versions of one or more of the figures in the article can be found online at www.tandfonline.com/brfs.
© 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
reported in 2017, valued at US$ 139.7 billion (Figure
4). Moreover, despite that over 70% of our planet is
covered with marine or brackish water, over 83.6% of
fish production were freshwater fish species, compared
with only 13.4% for capture fisheries (Figure 5).
As mentioned previously, freshwater fish species
currently dominate aquaculture fish production, with
freshwater carps and cyprinids constituting over
53.1% of total fish production, followed by miscellan-
eous freshwater fish species (19.5%), tilapia and other
cichlids (11.0%), followed by the diadromous salmo-
nids (6.5%), and miscellaneous coastal fishes (2.8%;
Figure 4).
Table 1 shows the top reported fish species pro-
duced in 2017 weight. By value, the top reported fish
species was Atlantic salmon at US $16.7 billion, fol-
lowed by the cyprinids grass carp (US$12.6 billion)
and Silver carp (US$10.3 billion; Table 1).
Aquaculture production—Crustaceans
Total reported crustacean production was 8.4 million
tonnes in 2017, with crustacean production growing
at an average annual rate of 9.92% per year since 2000
(Figure 3), with over 30 different crustacean species
reported in 2017, valued at US$61.06 billion (Figure
6). Marine shrimp currently dominate crustacean
aquaculture production at 5.51 million tonnes or
65.3% total crustaceans (valued at US$34.2 billion),
closely followed by the equally valuable freshwater
crustaceans (2.53 million tonnes or 29.9% total crusta-
ceans) and valued at US$24.3 billion (Figure 6). Table
2 shows the major reported crustacean species pro-
duced in 2017. By value, the top reported crustacean
species and aquaculture species was the Whiteleg
shrimp at US$26.7 billion; Table 2). Of particular
note, was the much higher unit value of the major
farmed crustacean species compared with most
farmed fish species (Table 1).
AquaHana LLC, Kailua, HI 96734, USA.
44 A. G. J. TACON

Aquaculture production—Molluscs reported in 2017, valued at US$30.4 billion (Figure 7).

Molluscs represented the second largest animal species
Total reported mollusc production was 17.4 million
group at 17.4 million tonnes or 15.4% of total aqua-
tonnes in 2017, with mollusc production growing at
culture production by weight in 2017, with oysters
an average annual rate of 3.46% per year since 2000
representing the largest species group (32.8% total
(Figure 3), with over 65 different mollusc species
molluscs), followed by clams, cockles and arkshells

Figure 1. Total global aquaculture and capture fisheries production 1950–2017 Aquaculture production has increased at an aver-
age APR of 6.24% per year since 1994 (values in million tonnes; FAO 2019).

Figure 2. Total global aquaculture production by major species group in 2017 (values given in million metric tonnes and US$ bil-
lion; FAO 2019).

Figure 3. Total global aquaculture production by major species group (metric tonnes; APR% 2000–2017; FAO 2019).
 REVIEWS IN FISHERIES SCIENCE & AQUACULTURE 45

Figure 4. Fish aquaculture production by major species groups in 2017 (values given in million metric tonnes and US$ billion; FAO 2019).

Table 1. Top reported fish aquaculture production in 2017 (FAO 2019).

Top fish species Million tonnes APR%/year 2000–2017 Total value US$ billion Unit value
US$/kg
1. Grass carp 5.52 3.70 12.6 2.28
2. Silver carp 4.70 2.61 10.3 2.19
3. Nile tilapia 4.13 8.89 7.61 1.84
4. Common carp 4.13 3.22 8.63 2.09
5. Bighead carp 3.15 4.76 7.32 2.32
6. Carassius sp 2.82 5.16 5.61 1.99
7. Catla 2.71 9.24 4.69 1.73
8. Atlantic salmon 2.36 5.86 16.7 7.08
9. Roho labeo 1.96 5.96 3.38 1.72
10. Pangasius catfish 1.82 18.6 3.13 1.72
11. Milkfish 1.73 7.99 2.43 1.40
12. Striped catfish 0.97 28.7 1.45 1.49
13. Torpedo shaped catfish 0.96 19.3 1.36 1.42
14. Wuchang bream 0.83 3.75 2.51 3.02
15. Rainbow trout 0.81 2.94 3.60 4.44

Figure 5. Fish aquaculture production in 2017 (values given in metric tonnes; FAO 2019).
46 A. G. J. TACON

Figure 6. Aquaculture production of crustaceans in 2017 (values given in million metric tonnes and US$ billion; FAO 2019).

Table 2. Top reported crustacean aquaculture production in 2017 (FAO 2019).

Top crustacean species Million tonnes APR%/year 2000–2017 Total value US$ billion Unit value US$/kg
1. Whiteleg shrimp 4.46 21.9 26.7 5.99
2. Red swamp crawfish 1.19 34.5 10.0 8.40
3. Chinese mutton crab 0.75 8.01 9.54 12.72
4. Giant tiger prawn 0.74 0.94 5.60 7.57
5. Giant river prawn 0.26 4.21 2.02 7.70

Figure 7. Aquaculture production of molluscs in 2017 (values given in million metric tonnes and US$ billion; FAO 2019).

(32.5%), scallops and pectins (12.6%), and mussels
(12.6%; Figure 7).
Aquaculture production—aquatic plants
Lastly, although aquatic plants represented 28.4% of
total aquaculture production by weight in 2017
(Figure 3), they represented only 4.7% of total produc-
tion by value (Figure 2). Despite this, the Japanese
kelp (Laminaria japonica) was the top cultured aqua-
culture species by weight in 2017 at 11.17 million
tonnes (live weight equivalent basis), with over 20 dif-
ferent aquatic plant species reportedly being cultivated
in 2017 (FAO 2019) (Figure 8).

Figure 8. Aquaculture production of seaweeds and algae in 2017 (values given in million metric tonnes and US$ billion; FAO 2019).
Figure 9. Total global aquaculture production by region in 2017. All APRs calculated from 2000 to 2017 and values given in
metric tonnes; FAO 2019).
Aquaculture production by region and country
As mentioned previously, Asia was responsible for
over 91% of total aquaculture production in 2017,
with the sector growing at an average annual rate of
5.89% per year since 2000, followed by the Americas
(3.2% total) growing at an average annual rate of
5.45% per year, Europe (2.7%) growing at an average
annual rate of 2.27% per year, followed by the African
continent (2.0%) with the sector growing at an aver-
age rate of 9.81% per year since 2000 (Figure 9).
As with agriculture, China dominates global aqua-
culture production at 64.36 million tonnes or 57.5%
of total global production in 2017 (Figure 10) and
remains the world largest producer of farmed fish
(Figure 5), crustaceans (Figure 6), molluscs (Figure 7),
REVIEWS IN FISHERIES SCIENCE & AQUACULTURE 47
and aquatic plants (Figure 8). Asia’s global
dominance in global aquaculture production is followed
by Indonesia (15.9 million tonnes), India (6.18 million
tonnes), Vietnam (3.3 million tonnes), Bangladesh (2.33
million tonnes), Republic of Korea (2.31 million
tonnes), and the Philippines (2.24 million tonnes; Figure
10).
Table 3 shows the top 20 aquaculture producers in
2017; the Asian dominance only being broken by
Egypt (8th largest country producer), Norway (9th),
Chile (11th), Brazil (15th), Ecuador (16th), the USA
(17th), and Spain (20th).
The average calculated unit value of aquaculture
production ranged widely from country to country,
reflecting country focus or not on the production of
higher value farmed species, such as salmonids in
48 A. G. J. TACON

Figure 10. Top aquaculture producers by country in 2017 (values given in million metric tonnes; FAO 2019).

Table 3. Top aquaculture country producers in 2017 (FAO 2019).

Top country producers Tonnes live weight APR%/year 2000–2017 Total value US$ billion Unit value US$/kg
1. China 64,358,480 4.64 148.96 2.31
2. Indonesia 15,896,100 Fa 17.71 12.91 0.81
3. India 6,182,000 F 7.05 12.29 1.99
4. Viet Nam 3,831,241 12.55 9.71 2.54
5. Bangladesh 2,333,352 7.74 5.90 2.53
6. Korea Rep. 2,306,280 7.56 3.43 1.49
7. Philippines 2,237,787 4.26 2.00 0.89
8. Egypt 1,451,841 F 8.91 1.38 0.95
9. Norway 1,308,633 5.93 7.86 6.00
10. Chile 1,219,747 6.40 10.41 8.54
11. Myanmar 1,048,863 14.90 1.75 1.67
12. Japan 1,021,580 –1.37 4.69 4.59
13. Thailand 889,891 1.11 2.70 3.04
14. Korea DPR 625,060 F 1.47 0.15 0.24
15. Brazil 595,000 F 7.56 1.46 2.46
16. Ecuador 464,505 F 12.65 2.41 5.18
17. USA 439,670 –0.22 1.21 2.76
18. Malaysia 427,515 5.65 0.71 1.66
19. Iran 412,887 14.63 1.27 3.09
20. Spain 311,031 F 0.03 0.58 1.87
a
FAO country estimate for 2017.

Table 4. Top fed fish and crustaceans in 2017 and estimated compound feed usage (FAO 2019).
Top major fed species groups Tonnes live weight APR%/yr 2000–2017 Total value US$ billion Estimated% on feeds Economic FCRa Feed use ‘000 tonnes
Chinese fed carps 13,985,593 4.0 32.3 57% 1.7 13,551
Tilapia 5,880,510 11.0 11.09 92% 1.7 9196
Shrimp 5,511,913 9.7 34.22 86% 1.6 7583
Catfishes 5,518,877 14.8 10.57 81% 1.3 5811
Marine fish 3,098,133 7.0 13.08 82% 1.7 4319
Salmon 2,577,427 5.6 18.27 100% 1.3 3350
FW crustaceans 2,526,185 11.0 24.29 57% 1.8 2,592
ODF fish 2,491,077 13.4 11.68 43% 1.7 1821
Milkfish 1,728,561 8.0 2.43 52% 1.7 1527
Trout 845,947 3.0 3.79 100% 1.3 1098
Eel 259,390 1.2 2.04 98% 1.5 381
Total 44,423,613 51,229
a
Economic FCR: estimated net fish production (live weight basis) per unit of feed intake (dry weight basis).
 REVIEWS IN FISHERIES SCIENCE & AQUACULTURE 49

Figure 11. Total estimated global compound feed usage by major fed species groups was 51.2 million tonnes in 2017.

Figure 12. Chinese fed carp production 2000 to 2017 (FAO 2019) and estimated commercial feed usage 2000 to 2025.

Chile and Norway, marine shrimp in Ecuador, or the Philippines reflects the large contribution of
marine finish in Japan. By contrast, the apparent low aquatic plants or seaweeds, above 60% total aquacul-
unit value of aquaculture production in Indonesia and ture production within these countries, produced
50 A. G. J. TACON
Figure 13. Tilapia production 2000 to 2017 (FAO 2019) and estimated commercial feed usage 2000 to 2025.
primarily as a low-cost source of carrageenans for
export (FAO 2018).
Fed aquaculture species production
In contrast to the farming of aquatic plants and
bivalve molluscs which is usually realized within open
coastal waters and dependent upon the in situ supply
of nutrients and/or plankton from the water column,
fish and crustacean farming operations are reliant
upon the external supply of feed inputs; these feed
inputs ranging from the use of dry commercially for-
mulated pelleted feeds (most fish and crustacean spe-
cies), the use of lower-value fresh/frozen fish as the
sole feed input (in the case highly piscivorous fish
species), to the use of farm made supplementary feed
inputs (Tacon and Metian 2015).
In general, the use of supplementary feeds is cur-
rently restricted to the production of lower-value fil- ter-
feeding fish species, including Silver carp (4,704,673
tonnes, Bighead carp 3,147,814 tonnes, Catla
(2,708,093 tonnes) and Rohu (1,962,943 tonnes; these
species totaling 12.52 million tonnes or 25.2% of total
fish production in 2017 (Table 1; FAO 2019).
Table 4 shows the top compound feed fed fish and
crustacean species groups produced in 2017 and
estimated feed usage. Total fed fish and crustacean
production in 2017 was estimated at 44.42 million
tonnes, with Chinese fed carp species dominating pro-
duction (13.98 million tonnes or 31.5% of total fed
species production in 2017), followed by tilapia (5.88
million tonnes, 13.2%), catfish (5.52 million tonnes,
12.4%), shrimp (5.51 million tonnes, 12.4%), marine
fish species (3.10 million tonnes, 7.0%), other miscel-
laneous freshwater and diadromous fish species (2.49
million tonnes, 5.6%), salmon (2.58 million tonnes,
5.8%), freshwater crustaceans (2.53 million tonnes,
5.7%), milkfish (1.73 million tonnes, 3.9%), trout
(0.845 million tonnes, 1.9%), and eels (0.259 million
tonnes, 0.58%), respectively.
It is important to mention here that major species
group estimates for compound feed usage are the per-
sonal opinion of the author and are not based on offi-
cial statistical reporting and as such need to be
validated and confirmed. Notwithstanding the above,
it is estimated that the production of 44.4 million
tonnes of major fed species necessitated the use of
over 51.2 million tonnes of compound aquaculture
feeds in 2017 (Figure 11).
Figures 12–22 show the total global production of
the major fed species from 2000 to 2017 based on
reported FAO species production data (FAO 2019)
 REVIEWS IN FISHERIES SCIENCE & AQUACULTURE 51

Figure 14. Catfish production 2000 to 2017 (FAO 2019) and estimated commercial feed usage 2000 to 2025.

Figure 15. Shrimp production 2000 to 2017 (FAO 2019) and estimated commercial feed usage 2000 to 2025.
52 A. G. J. TACON

Figure 16. Marine fish production 2000 to 2017 (FAO 2019) and estimated commercial feed usage 2000 to 2025.

Figure 17. Salmon production 2000 to 2017 (FAO 2019) and estimated commercial feed usage 2000 to 2025.
 REVIEWS IN FISHERIES SCIENCE & AQUACULTURE 53

Figure 18. Freshwater crustacean production 2000 to 2017 (FAO 2019) and estimated commercial feed usage 2000 to 2025.

Figure 19. Other miscellaneous freshwater and diadromous fish production 2000 to 2017 (FAO 2019) and estimated commercial
feed usage 2000 to 2025.
54 A. G. J. TACON

Figure 20. Milkfish production 2000 to 2017 (FAO 2019) and estimated commercial feed usage 2000 to 2025.

Figure 21. Trout production 2000 to 2017 (FAO 2019) and estimated commercial feed usage 2000 to 2025.
 REVIEWS IN FISHERIES SCIENCE & AQUACULTURE 55

Figure 22. Eel production 2000 to 2017 (FAO 2019) and estimated commercial feed usage 2000 to 2025.

Figure 23. Total estimated commercial aquaculture feed usage by major fed species group: 2000–2017 and estimates for 2020
and 2025.
56 A. G. J. TACON
and estimated compound feed usage, major species
country producers, together with an estimate for
species production and feed usage for 2020 and 2025.
On the basis of the data presented in Table 4 it is
estimated that total compound aquafeed usage was
51.23 million tonnes in 2017, and expected to rise to
58.85 million tonnes by 2020 and 73.15 million tonnes
by 2025, respectively (Figure 23).
Concluding remarks
Although aquaculture continues to be the world’s
fastest growing and most diverse food production
sector, the production of fish and crustaceans within
developing countries is highly dependent upon the
local manufacture of aquaculture feeds composed of
largely imported feed ingredient sources (Tacon and
Metian 2015). It follows therefore that future aqua-
culture feed industry and government effort should
be focused on the increased use of locally available
nonfood grade feed resources and the reduced use of
imported potentially food-grade feed resources and
inputs; the latter thus ensuring the long-term eco-
nomic and ecological sustainability of the aquacul-
ture sector.
References
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analysis, Release: 3.5.0, Universal Software for Fishery
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production. Rome, Italy: FAO. p. 1950–2017.
Go€rs M, Schumann R, Hepperle D, Karsten U. 2010.
Quality analysis of commercial Chlorella products used
as dietary supplement in human nutrition. J Appl Phycol.
22(3):265–76.
Tacon AGJ, Metian M. 2015. Feed matters: satisfying the
feed demand of aquaculture. Rev Fish Sci Aquacult. 23: 1–
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