FAO SOFIA: 175 Core Indicators of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture

 

175 Core Indicators of The FAO State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture

1. Open-Source Integrated Framework for Research and Education

To support the academic community, this indicator set operates within an Open-Source Integrated Framework. By utilizing standardized FAO methodologies (such as those found in FishStatJ), researchers and educators can access a transparent, "research-ready" dataset. This framework is designed to facilitate comparative studies across different years and regions, allowing for the modeling of climate impacts, biodiversity trends, and economic shifts. It serves as a foundational pedagogical tool for training the next generation of aquatic scientists and resource managers.

2. Conducting Global Social Responsibility

Beyond industrial statistics, these 175 indicators are a primary tool for Conducting Global Social Responsibility. The framework explicitly monitors the "Social Pillar" of the Blue Transformation, tracking metrics related to:

• Human Rights & Labor: Assessing the working conditions of the 61.8 million people in the primary sector.

• Gender Equity: Highlighting that women make up 62% of the processing workforce but face significant wage gaps.

• Equitable Livelihoods: Ensuring small-scale fishers (SDG 14.b) have secure access to resources and markets.

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Strategic Overview of the 175 Indicators

Dimension	Focus Area	2026 Objective
Pillar 1: Biological	Stock Status & Biodiversity	To reverse the trend of the 37.7% of stocks currently fished at unsustainable levels.
Pillar 2: Economic	Trade & Value Chains	To optimize the USD 400+ Billion sector for global food security.
Pillar 3: Social	Nutrition & Equity	To provide 20% of animal protein to 3.3 billion people, focusing on the most vulnerable.

FAO SOFIA - Integration Indicator Framework

Category	Indicator Name
Production	1. Total Fisheries and Aquaculture Production
	2. Total Production of Aquatic Animals
	3. Total Production of Algae (Seaweed)
	4. Marine Capture Fisheries Production
	5. Inland Capture Fisheries Production
	6. Marine Aquaculture Production
	7. Inland Aquaculture Production
	8. Total First-sale Value of Sector
Sustainability	9. Marine Stocks within Biologically Sustainable Levels
	10. Maximally Sustainably Fished Stocks
	11. Overfished (Unsustainable) Stocks
	12. Sustainably Fished Stocks (Weighted by Production)
	13. Sustainability of Major Tuna Stocks
	14. Inland Water Basin Pressure Index
Fleet	15. Global Fishing Fleet Size (Total Vessels)
	16. Share of Motorized vs. Non-motorized Vessels
	17. Fleet Distribution by Length (LOA <12m)
	18. Fleet Distribution by Length (LOA >24m)
Employment	19. Total Primary Sector Employment
	20. Employment in Capture Fisheries
	21. Employment in Aquaculture
	22. Women’s Share of Primary Sector Employment
	23. Women’s Share of Post-harvest/Processing
Consumption	24. Total Apparent Consumption of Aquatic Foods
	25. Global Per Capita Consumption
	26. Aquatic Animal Protein Contribution to Total Animal Protein
	27. Utilization for Human Consumption (Food Use)
	28. Utilization for Non-food Uses (Fishmeal/Fish Oil)
Trade	29. Total Export Value of Aquatic Products
	30. Total Export Volume (Live Weight Equivalent)
	31. FAO Fish Price Index (FPI)
	32. Net Trade Value for Developing Nations
Policy	33. Progress on IUU Fishing Instruments (SDG 14.6.1)
	34. Small-Scale Fisheries Access Rights (SDG 14.b.1)

Category	Indicator Name
Sustainability (Inland)	35. Health of Inland Water Basins (Pressure Index)
	36. Percentage of Major Basins under Low/Moderate/High Pressure
Utilization/Waste	37. Percentage of Total Production for Direct Human Consumption
	38. Use of By-products for Fishmeal and Fish Oil
	39. Estimated Post-harvest Loss and Waste (Percentage)
Projections (2032)	40. Projected Total Aquatic Animal Production by 2032
	41. Projected Aquaculture Growth Rate (to 2032)
	42. Projected Per Capita Consumption in 2032
Regional Outlook	43. Regional Growth Trends: Africa vs. Global Average
	44. Concentration of Aquaculture Production (Top 10 Countries)
Blue Transformation	45. Strategic Target for Sustainable Aquaculture Expansion
	46. Strategic Target for Effective Fishery Management (100% target)
	47. Implementation Rate of Value Chain Upgrades
Climate & Diversity	48. Impact of El Niño on Global Marine Production
	49. Climate Change Vulnerability of Aquatic Systems
	50. Diversity of Aquatic Species Produced (Aquaculture vs. Capture)

Category	Indicator Name
Data Quality	51. National Reporting Quality Score (QA Level 1 & 2)
	52. Number of Species Items in Capture Fisheries Dataset
	53. Number of Species Items in Aquaculture Dataset
Sustainability	54. Sustainable Fisheries Contribution to GDP (SDG 14.7.1)
	55. Share of Main Species Groups in Global Export Value
	56. Implementation Rate of the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA)
Blue Transformation	57. Adoption Rate of Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture (GSA)
	58. Number of Species Groups with Traceability/Certification Systems
	59. Level of Integration of Aquatic Foods in National Food Security Policies
	60. Participation Rate in the FISHINFO Network

Category	Indicator Name
Sustainability (SDG 14)	61. Sustainable Fisheries as a Percentage of GDP (SDG 14.7.1)
	62. Number of Countries Reporting on SDG 14.4.1 (Stock Status)
	63. Countries with Maritime Coastlines Failing Quality Assurance (QA)
Blue Transformation	64. Target for 100% Effective Fishery Management Coverage
	65. Number of Countries with National Plans of Action for SSF (NPOAs-SSF)
	66. Adoption of the Global Plan of Action for Aquatic Genetic Resources
Biosecurity & Health	67. Implementation of Progressive Management Pathway (PMP) for Biosecurity
	68. Global Levels of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Monitoring in Aquaculture
	69. Number of Species with Welfare Guidelines (Finfish/Crustaceans)
Environment	70. Sea Surface Temperature (SST) Anomalies in Fishing Areas
	71. Impact of Sea Level Rise on Coastal Aquaculture Infrastructure
	72. Total Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions per Tonne of Production
Value Chain	73. Level of Integration of Aquatic Foods in School Feeding Programs
	74. Number of Regional Aquaculture Networks (e.g., ANAF, RAA)
	75. Digitalization Index: Use of Blockchain/Electronic Monitoring in Trade

Category	Indicator Name
Utilization & Waste	76. Quantity of Aquatic Animals Utilized for Reduction (Fishmeal/Oil)
	77. Share of Non-Food Use derived from Processing By-products
	78. Global Loss and Waste Rates in Small-Scale vs. Industrial Chains
	79. Share of Fishmeal used in Aquaculture vs. Livestock Sectors
Nutritional Impact	80. Average Nutrient Density (Omega-3, Zinc, Iron) in Aquatic Food Supply
	81. Contribution of Aquatic Foods to Vitamin B12 and D Intake
	82. Affordability Index of Aquatic Foods compared to Other Animal Proteins
	83. Share of Aquatic Foods in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Diets
Climate Action	84. Fuel Efficiency Trends in the Global Fishing Fleet
	85. Carbon Sequestration Potential of Global Seaweed Farming
	86. Adaptive Capacity Score of Coastal Communities to Climate Shocks
	87. Incidence of Climate-Driven Species Distribution Shifts
Economics & Value	88. Real Price Trends of Major Aquatic Commodities (Shrimp, Salmon)
	89. Economic Multiplier Effect of Primary Aquatic Production
	90. Share of Aquatic Exports in Total National Merchandise Exports
	91. Investment Gap for Achieving 2030 Blue Transformation Goals
Resource Management	92. Number of Stocks under "Rebuilding Plans" Globally
	93. Capacity Building Activities for SDG 14.4.1 Reporting
	94. Compliance Levels with CITES for Endangered Aquatic Species
	95. Effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Fisheries Recovery
Future Outlook	96. Projected Production Surplus/Deficit by 2050 (Scenario Analysis)
	97. Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Fishery Monitoring and Control
	98. Development of Alternative Feeds (Insects/Microbes) for Aquaculture
	99. Progress in Reducing Plastic Pollution from Fishing Gear (ALDFG)
	100. Global Index of Aquatic Food Systems Resilience

Category	Indicator Name
Blue Transformation	101. Total Investment in Blue Transformation Projects (USD)
	102. Level of Adoption of the GSA (Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture)
	103. Percentage of Fisheries with Active Rebuilding Plans
	104. Number of Countries with Formalized Blue Economy Strategies
Science & Tech	105. Proportion of Stocks Assessed using "Data-Limited" Methodologies
	106. Deployment Rate of Electronic Monitoring (EM) Systems on Large Vessels
	107. Number of Open-Access Aquatic Genetic Resource Databases
	108. Adoption of Precision Aquaculture Technologies (IoT/Sensors)
Governance	109. Number of Parties to the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA)
	110. Compliance Rate with RFMO (Regional Fishery Management Org) Regulations
	111. Transparency Index: Public Availability of Vessel Registry Data
	112. National Progress on the FAO Agreement on Land-based Pollution
Socio-Economic	113. Aquatic Food Affordability Index for Low-Income Households
	114. Average Wage Gap Between Men and Women in the Processing Sector
	115. Percentage of Small-Scale Fishers with Access to Formal Credit
	116. Impact of Social Protection Programs on Fishing Communities
Biodiversity	117. Incidental Catch (Bycatch) Rates of ETP Species (Endangered/Threatened)
	118. Area of Restored Mangroves and Seagrass Beds (Ha)
	119. Number of Invasive Aquatic Species with National Control Plans
	120. Marine Biodiversity Index in Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs)

Category	Indicator Name
Sustainability & Management	121. Number of Stocks with Active "Rebuilding Plans"
	122. Catch Volume from Stocks with Formal Management Plans
	123. Ratio of Harvested vs. Harvestable Biomass in Major Basins
	124. Global Progress on Reducing Discards (Discard Rates)
Legal & Regulatory	125. ALART Score (Aquaculture Legal Assessment & Revision Tool)
	126. Number of Countries with Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)
	127. Adherence to the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries
	128. National Legislation Quality for Aquatic Animal Welfare
Trade & Markets	129. Value of Intra-Regional Trade in Aquatic Products
	130. Share of Certified (Eco-labeled) Products in Global Retail
	131. Tariffs and Non-Tariff Barriers Index for Aquatic Foods
	132. Market Share of Emerging Species (e.g., Tilapia, Bivalves)
Blue Transformation	133. Growth Rate of Aquaculture in Underutilized Regions (Africa/LDCs)
	134. Number of "Blue Transformation" Pilot Projects Globally
	135. Capacity Building Hours provided for SDG 14 Implementation
	136. Level of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in Aquatic Food Systems
Nutrition & Food Security	137. Post-Harvest Nutrient Retention Rates (Bioavailability)
	138. Inclusion of Fish in National "School Fruit and Vegetable" Equivalent Programs
	139. Percent of Food Aid containing Fortified Aquatic Products
	140. Consumption Gap between Urban and Rural Fishing Communities
Technology & Science	141. Proportion of National Research Budgets allocated to Aquatic Science
	142. Availability of Open-Access Satellite Data for Vessel Tracking
	143. Number of New Aquatic Species Domesticated for Aquaculture
	144. Use of Alternative Ingredients (Insects/Algae) in Fish Feed
Environmental Health	145. Marine Plastic Litter (ALDFG) Recovery Volume
	146. Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions per kg of Protein (Species Specific)
	147. Impact of Ocean Acidification on Shellfish Calcification Rates
	148. Frequency of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) impacting Production
Future Projections	149. Estimated Demand for Aquatic Foods by 2050 (9.7 Billion Population)
	150. Projected Share of "Cell-Based" or Synthetic Aquatic Foods by 2035

Category	Indicator Name
Sustainability (SDG 14)	151. Number of High-Quality Stock Assessment Questionnaires (QA Level 2)
	152. Regional Recurrence Rate of SDG 14.4.1 Reporting
	153. Number of New Pacific SIDS Reporting on Stock Status
	154. Integration Score of Indicator 14.4.1 with 14.7.1 (GDP contribution)
Blue Transformation	155. Adoption of the Global Plan of Action for Aquatic Genetic Resources
	156. Number of Countries Implementing National Plans of Action for SSF
	157. Progress on the FAO Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA)
	158. Level of Stakeholder Engagement in Blue Transformation Roadmaps
Climate & Environment	159. Sea Surface Temperature (SST) Anomaly Impacts on Local Stocks
	160. Carbon Footprint of Inland vs. Marine Aquaculture Systems
	161. Frequency of Extreme El Niño Events affecting Marine Production
	162. Estimated GHG Emission Reductions from Improved Feed Conversion
Utilization & Waste	163. Percentage of Whole Tuna Discards in Industrial Canning
	164. Biotechnical Applications of Aquatic By-products (Chitin/Collagen)
	165. Share of Fish Oil used in Pharmaceutical vs. Aquafeed Sectors
	166. Implementation of the Code of Conduct for Food Loss Reduction
Trade & Economy	167. Share of Intra-regional Trade in Aquatic Animal Foods
	168. Price Volatility Index for Staple Species (Tilapia/Carp)
	169. Number of Bilateral Trade Agreements with Fishery-specific Clauses
	170. Share of Aquatic Food Exports in Total Agricultural Trade
Social & Equity	171. Percent of Women in Leadership Roles in Fisheries Organizations
	172. Adoption of Social Sustainability Guidelines in Value Chains
	173. Youth Employment Growth in the Aquaculture Sector
	174. Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Compliance Rates
Technology	175. Digitalization Index: Adoption of Blockchain for Traceability

Methodology

To ensure the highest level of accuracy, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) cross-references national reports with secondary data from Regional Fishery Bodies (RFBs), international trade records (such as those from the World Trade Organization and UN Comtrade), and satellite-based vessel monitoring systems. For biological indicators, such as the status of marine fish stocks (SDG 14.4.1), the FAO employs a rigorous peer-review process involving a network of global scientists who analyze catch data, biomass assessments, and fishing effort across 500+ individual stocks. This comprehensive monitoring framework, now integrated into the Blue Transformation initiative, allows for the tracking of long-term trends while providing a transparent, science-based foundation for global aquatic food policy.