FAO - SOFIA

 

FAO SOFIA: Most Searched Global Fisheries and Aquaculture Indicators (2026 Rankings)

The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) report is the global benchmark for aquatic food systems. In 2026, the data highlights a historic "Blue Transformation": for the first time, aquaculture production has surpassed capture fisheries as the primary source of aquatic animals. This shift has focused global interest on the sustainability of farmed versus wild-caught sources and the evolving nutritional needs of a growing population.

Rank	Indicator Name	Component Category	Leading Producer (2026 Forecast)	Key Metric / Trend
1	Total Aquaculture Production	Farming	🇨🇳 China	~131 Million Tonnes
2	Capture Fisheries Production	Wild Harvest	🌍 Global Total	~91-92 Million Tonnes
3	Apparent Consumption per Capita	Nutrition	🌍 Global Average	~21.3 kg / year
4	Sustainability of Marine Fish Stocks	Conservation	🌍 Global Average	62.3% (Sustainably Fished)
5	Value of International Trade	Economy	🌍 Global Market	~$195 Billion
6	Employment in Primary Sector	Livelihoods	🌍 Asia (85% share)	~61.8 Million People
7	Aquatic Animal Protein Contribution	Nutrition	🌍 Global Average	15% of Animal Protein
8	Small-Scale Fisheries Catch Share	Livelihoods	🌍 Developing Nations	~40% of Global Catch
9	Utilization for Human Consumption	Food Security	🌍 Global Average	~89% of Total Output
10	Global Algae Production (Seaweed)	Emerging Sectors	🇨🇳 China / 🇮🇩 Indonesia	~38 Million Tonnes

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Rank	Indicator Name	Category	Leading Entity / Trend	Key Value
11	Global Algae Production (Seaweed)	Emerging Sectors	🇮🇩 Indonesia / 🇨🇳 China	~38 Million Tonnes
12	Inland Fisheries Catch	Production	🇮🇳 India / 🇧🇩 Bangladesh	~11.5 Million Tonnes
13	Fishmeal and Fish Oil Utilization	Feed Efficiency	🇵🇪 Peru (Main Producer)	~11% of Total Catch
14	Aquaculture Farm-Gate Value	Economy	🇨🇳 China	~$313 Billion
15	Gender-Disaggregated Workforce	Livelihoods	🌍 Global (Processing)	62% Women
16	Tuna Stock Sustainability Index	Conservation	🌍 Global Average	~87% Healthy Stocks
17	Post-Harvest Loss and Waste	Efficiency	🌍 Global Priority	Target: 50% Reduction
18	Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Coverage	Environment	🌍 Global Target	SDG 14.5 Monitoring
19	Inland Water Pressure Index	Environment	🌍 Global Basins	13% High Pressure
20	Blue Transformation Roadmap Progress	Strategy	🌍 FAO Member States	100% Management Goal

Rank	Indicator Name	Category	Leading Entity / Trend	Key Value
21	IUU Fishing Risk Index	Governance	🌍 Global Monitoring	Critical Policy Focus
22	Non-Food Use of Production	Resource Use	🌍 Global Average	~11% of Total Output
23	Climate Change Vulnerability Index	Environment	🌍 Small Island States	High Risk Category
24	Aquatic Food Price Index	Economy	🌍 Global Market	~25% Volatility Range
25	Trade Value of Crustaceans	Economy	🇪🇨 Ecuador / 🇻🇳 Vietnam	Top Traded Commodity
26	Mollusk Production (Shellfish)	Farming	🇨🇳 China	~17.5 Million Tonnes
27	Fisheries Subsidies (WTO Compliance)	Policy	🌍 Global Agreement	Target: $22B Reduction
28	El Niño Southern Oscillation Impact	Environment	🇵🇪 Peru / 🇪🇨 Ecuador	Significant Yield Shift
29	Aquaculture Biosecurity Index	Technology	🌍 Global Standards	Risk Mitigation Focus
30	Blue Carbon Sequestration Potential	Environment	🌍 Coastal Mangroves	Climate Finance Link

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Governance and Climate Resilience

The final set of indicators (21–30) shifts the focus from "what we produce" to "how we protect." As the sector matures into a primary pillar of global food security, its vulnerabilities to geopolitical and environmental shifts become more pronounced.

• The Governance Challenge: IUU Fishing (Rank 21) and Fisheries Subsidies (Rank 27) remain at the top of the search list for trade analysts. With new WTO agreements coming into full force in 2026, countries are racing to align their national policies to avoid trade sanctions and ensure their fleets are operating within sustainable limits.

• Climate as a Disruptor: The El Niño Impact (Rank 28) has historically caused massive swings in capture fisheries, particularly for small pelagics like anchoveta in South America. In 2026, integrated monitoring systems are being used to predict these shifts, allowing markets to adjust before supply shocks hit.

• The "Blue Carbon" Economy: A major emerging trend is the link between Algae Production and Blue Carbon Sequestration (Rank 30). For the first time, aquaculture is being viewed not just as a food source, but as a critical tool for carbon credits and coastal protection, creating a new financial incentive for "Blue Transformation."

Ultimately, these 30 indicators from the SOFIA report provide the essential metrics for navigating a world where "Blue Foods" are increasingly central to ending hunger and building a sustainable, climate-resilient future.