Bangladesh remained one of the world's leading fisheries producers in 2024, ranking among the top five aquaculture-producing countries and retaining its position as the second-largest producer of inland capture fisheries, according to a new report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The report, The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2026, said global fisheries and aquaculture production reached a record 235 million tonnes in 2024. The total included 195 million tonnes of aquatic animals and 40 million tonnes of algae, representing a 5.2 per cent increase from 2022. The estimated first-sale value of the combined production stood at $565 billion.
According to the report, 67 per cent of global production came from marine waters, with capture fisheries accounting for 51 per cent and aquaculture 49 per cent of marine output. Inland waters contributed the remaining 33 per cent, of which 84 per cent originated from aquaculture.
Asia continued to dominate global production, accounting for 76 per cent of total fisheries and aquaculture output. Latin America and the Caribbean contributed 8 per cent, followed by Europe with 7 per cent, Africa 6 per cent, Northern America 2 per cent and Oceania 1 per cent.
Production of aquatic animals reached a record 195 million tonnes in 2024. Aquaculture accounted for 53 per cent of that total, while capture fisheries contributed 47 per cent. The first-sale value of aquatic animal production was estimated at $545 billion.
Marine areas produced 118 million tonnes, equivalent to 61 per cent of global aquatic animal production, while inland waters contributed 77 million tonnes, or 39 per cent.
In inland capture fisheries, India remained the world's largest producer with catches of 2.2 million tonnes in 2024. Bangladesh ranked second with 1.4 million tonnes.
Global aquaculture production also reached a record 142 million tonnes, valued at an estimated $391 billion. The total comprised 103 million tonnes of aquatic animals worth $371 billion and 39 million tonnes of algae valued at $20 billion.
Asia accounted for 92 per cent of global aquaculture output. It was followed by Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Northern America and Oceania.
China, Indonesia, India, Viet Nam and Bangladesh were the world's five largest aquaculture producers, together accounting for 84 per cent of global aquaculture production.
Aquaculture production of aquatic animals climbed to a record 103 million tonnes in 2024, highlighting the sector's growing contribution to meeting global demand for aquatic food.
China remained the largest producer, accounting for 56 per cent of global aquaculture animal production. India contributed 12 per cent, followed by Indonesia with 6 per cent, Viet Nam 5 per cent and Bangladesh 3 per cent. Together, these five countries produced 82 per cent of the world's aquaculture animals.
Nearly two-thirds of aquaculture animal production came from inland waters, where finfish dominated with an 89 per cent share. Crustaceans accounted for 9 per cent, while aquatic turtles, frogs, molluscs and other invertebrates made up the remainder.
Marine and coastal aquaculture produced 38 million tonnes of aquatic animals. Molluscs accounted for 53 per cent of production, followed by finfish at 24 per cent, crustaceans at 22 per cent and other marine invertebrates at 2 per cent, the report said.
