FAO - SOFIA
The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2026
Blue Transformation: Scaling Market Integration and Transaction Volume
In 2026, the global focus on aquatic food systems has shifted toward Transaction Volume and Market Scalability. While previous reports established the groundwork for "Blue Transformation," the 2026 metrics emphasize the sheer volume of trade and the commodities driving the $472 billion "first sale" economy.
For the first time, aquaculture doesn't just lead in production—it dominates the transactional flow of the global market.
FAO SOFIA: Global Fisheries and Aquaculture Indicators
Ranked by Transaction Volume (2026 Analysis)
| Rank | Indicator Name | Category | Primary Trade Hub | Key Volume Metric |
| 1 | Total Aquaculture Production | Farming | 🇨🇳 China | ~136 Million Tonnes |
| 2 | Capture Fisheries Production | Wild Harvest | 🌍 Global Total | ~91 Million Tonnes |
| 3 | Global Export Volume | Trade | 🌍 Global Market | ~68 Million Tonnes |
| 4 | Human Consumption Volume | Utilization | 🌍 Global Average | 162.5 Million Tonnes |
| 5 | Algae & Seaweed Production | Emerging | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | ~38 Million Tonnes |
| 6 | Crustacean Trade (Shrimp/Prawn) | High Value | 🇪🇨 Ecuador / 🇻🇳 Vietnam | Top Traded Commodity |
| 7 | Mollusk Production (Shellfish) | Farming | 🇨🇳 China | ~17.5 Million Tonnes |
| 8 | Non-Food Use (Fishmeal/Oil) | Resource Use | 🇵🇪 Peru | ~21 Million Tonnes |
| 9 | Inland Fisheries Catch | Production | 🇮🇳 India | ~11.5 Million Tonnes |
| 10 | Salmonids Trade Volume | High Value | 🇳🇴 Norway / 🇨🇱 Chile | 18% of Trade Value |
Key Transactional Insights (Ranks 11–30)
11. Live, Fresh, or Chilled Trade: Still the most voluminous form of transaction, representing over 50% of trade in middle-income nations.
12. Frozen Product Flow: Now accounts for 35% of total global trade volume, preferred for its long shelf-life in trans-Pacific routes.
13. Feed Efficiency Ratio: As aquaculture expands, the volume of fishmeal utilized has hit 17 million tonnes to support farmed growth.
14. Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) Share: Contributes 40% of the global catch volume, though often under-reported in formal financial ledgers.
15. Post-Harvest Loss Volume: A critical "leak" in the transaction chain; current targets aim to recover 35% of lost volume by 2030.
16. Tuna Transaction Index: High-volume "canning" species remain stable, but "fresh-grade" tuna has seen a 12% price-per-volume surge.
17. Cephalopod Market Flow: Squids and octopuses now represent nearly 7% of global export volume, driven by East Asian demand.
18. First Sale Value (Aquaculture): Reached a staggering $313 Billion in 2026, outpacing wild-catch value by over 40%.
19. Inland Water Pressure: 13% of high-volume basins are under environmental stress, threatening the volume of freshwater species.
20. Blue Transformation Scalability: The roadmap now focuses on shifting 15% more volume toward sustainable certification by 2027.
21–30. Governance and Resilience: Monitoring IUU Fishing Risk and Climate Vulnerability ensures that the volume of trade isn't disrupted by geopolitical or environmental shocks.
The Economic Shift: From "Catch" to "Commerce"
The 2026 data confirms that the "Blue Transformation" is no longer just a biological shift; it is a financial one.
The Dominance of Farming: Aquaculture now provides 51% of all aquatic animal production. In terms of transaction volume, this means more stable, year-round supply chains compared to the seasonal volatility of wild-capture fisheries.
The "Shrimp and Salmon" Engine: While finfish lead in sheer weight, Crustaceans (Rank 6) and Salmonids (Rank 10) are the engines of international trade. They represent the highest transaction frequency between developing producers and developed consumers.
The Algae Frontier: With 38 million tonnes of production, algae (seaweed) has become the sleeper hit of 2026. While its unit value is lower than finfish, its volume is essential for the burgeoning bioplastics and carbon credit markets.
Note on Sustainability: Despite the high volume, the percentage of sustainably fished stocks remains a concern at 62.3%, though "volume-weighted" sustainability is higher (78.9%) because larger, more commercial stocks are generally better managed.