Feeding the world: What role for fisheries?

Abstract

Fisheries (wild capture and aquaculture) deliver more than 110 million tonnes of food and around 15 of the dietary protein to the 7 billion people currently living on the planet. With the global population expected to peak at 9 billion by 2050, and >80 of global fish stocks currently fully or overexploited (and aquaculture is at least in part dependent on capture fisheries), the contribution of fisheries looks set to decline. The challenge is therefore determining how better management, an ecosystem perspective, and more efficient utilization of fisheries waste can support fisheries products continuing to contribute significantly to "feeding the world" up to and beyond the population peak. © 2012 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.