August 16, 2018 — If current population trends continue, experts estimate the world will need to double food production by 2050, and those same experts say fish are the answer.
“We’re running out of options on land,” says Vera Agostini from the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization. “There’s only so much we can take from the planet, so fisheries and aquaculture will be critical.”
In 2016, fisheries yielded 171 million tons of fish for consumption. By 2030, that number is expected to reach 201 million tons.
To reach that goal, fisheries face a host of environmental issues and economic concerns, and advocates are saying not all fishing might be worth the effort.
Earlier this summer, the FAO published a comprehensive overview of the fishing industry called The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture. It outlined the history of an industry they expect to play a critical role in meeting food consumption targets.