Inland Fisheries

1.4.9 Per capita food fish supply and consumption

The fishery sector plays a key role in food security, not only for subsistence and small scale fishers who rely directly on fishery for food, incomes and services, but also for consumers who profit from an excellent source of affordable high-quality animal protein.

Total and per capita fish food supplies have expanded significantly in the last five decades. Total food fish supply has increased at an annual rate of 3.1 percent since 1961, while the world population has increased by 1.7 percent per year in the same period.

The total amount of fish consumed and the species composition of the food supply vary according to regions and countries, reflecting the different levels of availability of fish and other foods, including the accessibility of aquatic resources in adjacent waters, as well as diverse food traditions, tastes, demand, income levels, prices and seasons. Annual per capita apparent fish consumption can vary from less than 1 kg in one country to more than 100 kg in another. Differences are also evident within countries, with consumption usually higher in coastal areas. Of the 111 million tonnes available for human consumption in 2007, consumption was lower in Africa (8.2 million tonnes, with 8.5 kg per capita), while Asia accounted for two-thirds of total consumption, with 74.5 million tonnes (18.5 kg per capita), of which 39.6 million tonnes was consumed outside China (14.5 kg per capita). The corresponding per capita consumption figures for Oceania, North America, Europe, Central America and the Caribbean, and South America were 25.2, 24.0, 22.2, 9.4 and 9.1 kg, respectively.

Annual per capita fish consumption grew from an average of 9.9 kg in the 1960s to 11.5 kg in the 1970s, 12.6 kg in the 1980s, 14.4 kg in the 1990s and reached 17.0 kg in 2007. The estimate for 2008 indicates a further increase in annual per capita consumption to 17.1 kg. The preliminary estimates for 2009 indicate a further increase in annual per capital consumption to 17.2 kg.