FAO: Global aquaculture output up 2.5%

According to FAO statistics, total fisheries production – not including algae or marine mammals – reached 141.6 million tonnes last year, which represents an increase of just 0.9 per cent against 2007.

Around 50 per cent of global fish exports were undertaken by developing countries, FAO statistics show. At the same time, 80 per cent of imports were shipped to developed nations.

Japan returned to the position of the globe’s leading fish importer in 2008, after having lost this position in 2007 to the United States.

In terms of value, European nations absorbed 40 per cent of total imports.

China consolidated itself as the main fish exporter on the global arena, with sales of USD 10.2 billion last year, the FAO report found. A major part of its export sales was made up of imported raw material that was processed domestically and then re-exported. Its fish imports are still expanding, representing some USD 5.2 billion in 2008.

Next in line was Norway, with exports worth USD 7.4 billion – an 18 per cent hike over 2007. This surge was in large part linked to a growth in salmon exports.

[Source: www.fis.com ]