The ASEAN region – the Association of Southeast Asian Nations – is projected to produce 24 percent of global fish output by 2030, according to a new report from WorldFish.
The report, “Fish to 2050 in the ASEAN Region,” – produced in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) – says policies to promote sustainable aquaculture expansion and law enforcement in fisheries management are critical to ensuring sustainable growth in both sectors.
The rise of ASEAN countries’ (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) fish production can be attributed to the rapid growth of aquaculture in Southeast Asia and its large offshore fishing fleet. Fisheries and aquaculture are increasingly becoming a primary source of animal protein, micronutrients, foreign exchange, livelihoods and well-being for the population in the region, WorldFish said in a press release.
WorldFish said the majority of fish production occurs in developing countries in the South where competition for natural resources is high, and that aquaculture is expected to supply more than half of the fish consumed in the ASEAN region in the next decade.
“Future fish supply and demand in ASEAN faces a number of challenges, especially climate change, which will cause disruptions in ocean and aquatic ecosystems,” the press release said. “Other global challenges such as increasing demand for fishmeal and fish oil and the associated price increases of fish will also become key drivers of change in technologies and management.”
2014 production figures
According to the report, in 2014, Asia accounted for 70.8 percent of global fish production. China produced 37.5 percent and consumed 37.1 percent of the world’s food fish. South Asia accounted for 9.3 percent of global fish supply, with India and Bangladesh as the region’s top producers, while Southeast Asia accounted for 18.3 percent. Africa, Latin America, Europe and North America accounted for 6.2 percent, 8.1 percent, 10 percent and 4 percent respectively.
In 2014, the 10 ASEAN countries together accounted for 18.3 percent (30.6 million tons) of world fish production (167.3 million tons), earning US$23.8 billion.
The report said aquaculture production in the region has grown at an annual average of 14 percent from 2008 to 2013. During the same period, China showed a growth rate of 6 percent annually, South America 6.9 percent, and Africa 10.4 percent.
ASEAN’s share of global production in 2015, 2030 and 2050
Production | Share of global production (%) |
2015 | 2030 | 2050 | |
Aquaculture | 16.4 | 22.0 | 19.6 |
Capture fisheries | 20.9 | 25.8 | 25.8 |
Total | 18.9 | 23.8 | 22.3 |
Source: WorldFish