The UN says that more aquatic animals were raised than fished in 2022. This is the first time in history

ROME (AP) — The total global volume of fish, shrimp, clams and other aquatic animals harvested in agriculture surpassed the amount caught wild in the world’s waters for the first time, the United Nations said Friday.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in its latest report on fisheries and aquaculture — or agriculture in water — states that global capture and harvesting brought in more than 185 million tons of aquatic animals in 2022, the year most recent for which statistics are available.

Experts say the milestone in human history was expected, as fisheries have largely stagnated over the past three decades – largely due to the limits of nature.

Manuel Barange, who heads FAO’s fisheries and aquaculture division, said that aquaculture has benefited from a growing recognition of nutritional benefits – such as omega-3 and other micronutrients found in foods from aquatic animals – and a lower environmental impact than than foods derived from terrestrial animals.

The total amount of aquatic animals caught in the wild fell from 91.6 million tonnes in 2021 to 91 million tonnes the following year, FAO said in its latest report on the state of fishing and aquaculture in the world.

Global production increased to 94.4 million in 2022, up from 91.1 million the previous year, it said.

Asia was the source of more than 90% of all aquaculture production of aquatic animals, the FAO added.

Around 90% of aquatic animals raised or fished are for human consumption, with the remainder destined for other uses, such as food for other animals or fish oils.

The most common fish caught in the world’s oceans, seas, rivers, lakes and ponds include Peruvian anchovies, skipjack and Alaskan pollock, while freshwater carp, oysters, clams, shrimp, tilapia and prawns are among the most commonly caught animals.