Introduction

Fisheries production is a vital part of the global food system, serving as a primary source of protein and
essential nutrients for billions of people worldwide. The industry encompasses a vast range of activities,
including capture fisheries—harvesting fish from natural environments—and aquaculture, the farming of
fish in controlled environments. Together, these two branches provide a significant portion of the world’s
animal protein intake and support millions of livelihoods. However, in recent years, the fisheries sector has
faced complex challenges, from resource depletion and environmental impacts to the socioeconomic effects
on communities dependent on fishing.

On a global scale, the demand for fish and seafood has surged, fueled by population growth, increasing
incomes, and a shift towards diets perceived as healthier. In response, global fisheries production has
transformed, with aquaculture rapidly expanding to complement traditional capture fisheries. According to
recent reports, aquaculture now accounts for almost half of the fish available for human consumption,
marking a significant shift in the industry.

Bangladesh, with its vast network of rivers, estuaries, and coastal resources, has a unique position in global
fisheries production. Fisheries contribute significantly to the national economy, providing employment to
millions and being a cornerstone of food security and nutrition for the population. Bangladesh is one of the
leading fish producers in the world, with a rich heritage in fishing and an increasingly vibrant aquaculture
sector. Fish is central to the Bangladeshi diet, and per capita fish consumption in Bangladesh is among the
highest in the world.

Despite these successes, the fisheries sector in Bangladesh, much like the global industry, faces numerous
challenges. Overfishing, habitat degradation, and climate change pose serious risks to sustainable
production. As rising sea levels, temperature fluctuations, and changing rainfall patterns impact fish
habitats, there are pressing concerns over the resilience of the sector.

1. Global Trends of Total Fisheries Harvest in 2022

Total fisheries and aquaculture production reached an all-time record of 223.2 million tonnes in 2022. 185.4
million tonnes (live weight equivalent) of aquatic animals and 37.8 million tonnes (wet weight) of algae, a
4.4 percent increase from 2020.
Figure 01: Total fisheries and auqculture
Sixty-two percent of aquatic animals were production in 2022
harvested in marine areas (69 percent from
capture fisheries and 31 percent from
aquaculture) and 38 percent in inland
waters (84 percent from aquaculture and 16 Capture
Fisheries, Aquaculture
percent from capture fisheries). 92.3 million fisheries ,
tonnes 130.9 million
tonnes

Aquaculture fisheries Capture Fisheries

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 1.1 Aquaculture Production
World aquaculture production in 2022 achieved
Fif. 02: Aquaculture Production of Aquatic
an all-time record of 130.9 million tonnes, up by Animals, Algaer/Seaweed and Shellfish in
8.1 million tonnes from 122.8 million tonnes in 2022
2020. Its estimated farm-gate value was USD
312.8 billion in 2022.
Shells and pearls 0.0027
It comprised 94.4 million tonnes (live weight

Axis Title
equivalent; worth USD 295.7 billion) of aquatic Farmed algae (wet weight) 36.5
animals and 36.5 million tonnes (wet weight;
worth USD 17 billion) of algae (seaweed and
Aquatic animals (live weight) 94.4
micro-algae), plus a further 2 700 tonnes (worth
USD 138.5 million) of shells and pearls. 0 20 40 60 80 100

Total production of aquatic animals has increased Axis Title

over the decades, going from 19 million tonnes
(live weight equivalent) in 1950 to an all-time record of over 185 million tonnes in 2022, with an average
annual growth rate of 3.2 percent. The total first sale value was estimated at USD 452 billion in 2022, of
which USD 296 billion came from aquaculture production. The year 2022 marked the first time in history
that aquaculture production of aquatic animals surpassed capture fisheries production with 51% of total
production. 185 million tonnes of aquatic animals produced in 2022, 51 percent (94 million tonnes) was
from aquaculture and 49 percent (91 million tonnes) from capture fisheries.

1.2 Capture Fisheries Production

In 2022, global capture fisheries production reached 92.3 million tonnes, comprising 91.0 million tonnes
(live weight equivalent) of aquatic animals and 1.3 million tonnes (wet weight) of algae, in addition to
about 7 700 tonnes of other aquatic products such as corals, pearls, shells and sponges. Capture fisheries
decreased by 0.2 percent compared with the average of the previous three years. It peaked in 2018 at 96.5
million tonnes, coinciding with the exceptionally high catches of anchoveta (Engraulis ringens) reported
by Peru and Chile. Catches then dropped to marginally lower levels, impacted in 2020 by the COVID-19
pandemic.

Fig. 03: World Capture Fisheries Production of Aquatic Animals, Algaer/Seaweed

and Shellfish in 2022 in 2022
100 79.7
MILLION TONNES

50
11.3
1.3 0.0077
0
marine Capture Inladn capture Algae Others ( shells and pearls)
Axis Title

2. Trends of Global fisheries production and utilizations since last 50 years in line with
Value Addition.

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2.1 World Trend

Total production of aquatic animals has increased over the decades, going from 19 million tonnes (live
weight equivalent) in 1950 to an all-time record of over 185 million tonnes in 2022, with an average annual
growth rate of 3.2 percent. The total first sale value was estimated at USD 452 billion in 2022, of which

Fig. 05:Contribution of Aquaculture to

the World Aquatic Production Over the
Decades
60% 51%
35%
40% 26%
~12% 18%
20%
0%

Fig.04 Global Fisheriees Production in 2022

USD 296 billion came from aquaculture production. The overall growth of production has been regular
since 1950, except for a few marginal declines.

But from 1950s the contribution of aquaculture has increased rapidly because of the advancement of
technologies and demand of the food. Between the 1950s and the late 1980s, fisheries and aquaculture
production in inland waters fluctuated at around 12 percent of the total production of aquatic animals. With
the growth of aquaculture production, this gradually increased to 18 percent in the 1990s, 26 percent in the
2000s and 35 percent in the 2010s. Global capture fisheries production has been relatively stable since the
late 1980s, fluctuating between 86 million tonnes and 94 million tonnes per year with an isolated peak at
96 million tonnes in 2018.

Fig.07: Global Capture Fisheries

Production
98 96.5
96
MILLION TONNES

94 92.3
92 90.3
90
88
86
2018 2020 2022

Fig.06 : World Inland and Coastal and Marine Aquaculture

In 2022, Asian countries produced 70 percent of the total output of aquatic animals, followed by countries
in Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean (9 percent each), Africa (7 percent), Northern America (3

percent) and Oceania (1 percent). In 2022 the total production of capture fisheries were higher because of
Peru and Chili. They contributed the highest amount of achoveta to the world capture production.

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 Table 01: Top Contributors in Marine Capture Production in 2022
Rank Country % contribution in Production in marine
total marine capture capture fisheries 2022
fisheries 2022 (thousand tonnes)
1 China 14.8% 11,819
2 Indonesia 8.6% 6,843
3 Peru 6.6% 5,289
4 Russian Federation 5.9% 4,717
5 India 5.3% 4,243
6 USA 4.5% 3,597
7 Viet Nam 4.3% 3,443
8 Japan 3.6% 2,889
9 Norway 3.1% 2,442

10 Chile 2.8% 2,226

In 2022, global capture fisheries production reached 92.3 million tonnes, comprising 91.0 million tonnes
(live weight equivalent) of aquatic animals and 1.3 million tonnes (wet weight) of algae, in addition to
about 7 700 tonnes of other aquatic products such as corals, pearls, shells and sponges. China remained the
top producer with 13.0 million tonnes, accounting for 14.3 percent of global captures of aquatic animals in
2022. At regional level China is responsible for 50.0 percent of global marine captures in 2022

Fig.09: Total World Production from 1950 to 2022 Fig.10: Top Countries Contribution to Worlds Production

Fish Utilization
Of the 185.4 million tonnes (live weight equivalent) of aquatic animals harvested globally in 2022, about
89 percent (164.6 million tonnes) was used for direct human consumption. The remaining 11 percent (20.8
million tonnes) was destined for non-food purposes, of which about 83 percent (17 million tonnes) was
reduced to fishmeal and fish oil, while the rest (about 4 million tonnes) was largely utilized as ornamental
fish, in aquaculture (e.g. as fry, fingerlings or small adults for ongrowing), as bait, in pharmaceutical
applications, for pet food, or as raw material for direct feeding in aquaculture and for the raising of livestock
and fur animals.

In 2022, about 31 percent of the aquatic food production of upper- and lower-middle-income countries was
utilized in frozen form, 9 percent each in canned and cured forms, and over 50 percent in live, fresh or
chilled form. In contrast, for low-income countries, only 7 percent was frozen, about 20 percent cured and
about 70 percent live, fresh or chilled.

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 services, and their production and processing offer significant employment opportunities for coastal

Fig.11: UTILIZATION OF WORLD FISHERIES AND

AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION OF AQUATIC ANIMALS BY Fig.12: Utilization of Fish and Fishery Products
FOOD AND NON-FOOD

communities, in particular for women and youth.

Fishmeal is a protein-rich flour made by milling and drying fish or fish parts, while fish oil is obtained by
pressing cooked fish and centrifuging the liquid extracted. The increase in global fisheries and aquaculture
production poses a challenge for the aquatic food processing industry. Fish processing generates large
quantities of by-products such as heads, skins, bones, scales and viscera, constituting 30 to 70 percent of
the whole fish. By-products containing heads, frames and belly flaps, and parts of the viscera like liver and
roe are good sources of high-quality proteins, lipids with long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, micronutrients
like vitamins A, D and B12, and minerals such as iron, zinc, selenium.

Fig.13 Use of Fish Oil in Different Sectors Over the Fig.14: Use of fishery by-products to produce fishmeal
Decade
3. The trends and prospects of fisheries production and utilizations in Bangladesh

Bangladesh, blessed with vast potential water resources, is one of the world’s leading fish producing
countries with a total production of 49.15 lakh MT in 2022-23, where as inland open water (capture)
contributes 28.15% (13.83 lakh MT) and inland closed water (culture) contributes 58.03% (28.52 lakh MT)
to total fish production. So, 86.18% of total fish production comes from inland fisheries. The growth rates
of inland capture and inland culture fisheries are 4.66% and 4.43% respectively. On the other hand, Marine
fisheries production is 6.79 lakh MT and its contribution to total fish production is 13.82%.

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 In 1983-84, the contribution of inland capture, culture and marine fisheries to total fish production were
62.59%, 15.53% and 21.88%, respectively; where as in 2022-23, inland capture fisheries contributes only
28.15%, inland culture fisheries contributes 58.03%, marine fisheries contributes 13.82% to total fish

Fig.15: Total Aquatic Animal Production in Bangladesh in

Fig.16: Aquatic Production of Bangladesh in Different Sectors
Last 40 years

production. Total marine fisheries production is 6.79 lakh MT (Industrial is 1.46 lakh and Artisanal is 5.33
lakh MT) and its growth rate is -3.77%. Aquaculture has been progressing with reasonable success due
to the expansion of various developed technologies.

Hilsa (Ilish) is the national fish of Bangladesh. Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) is one of the largest single-species
fishery in Bangladesh which makes the Significant contribution to the country's total fish production. About

Fig.18: Increasing Chart of Hilsa Production Fig.20: Shrimp Production of Banglades

11.63% of the country’s total fish production comes from hilsa. As a result, hilsa production increased
from1.99 lakh MT in 2003-04 to 5.71 lakh MT in 2022-23. The growth rate of hilsa production is 0.84%.
It is highly noted that Hilsa has been declared as Geographical Indicator (GI) product of Bangladesh.

Shrimp is one of the major export items in Bangladesh. Total shrimp and prawn production including capture
has been increased from 1.40 lakh MT in 2000-01 to 2.71 lakh MT in 2022-23 and its current growth rate is
4.73%. Coastal aquaculture both shrimp and prawn and finfish farming are expanding, and total shrimp and
prawn production have been increased over the last 20 years.

Fish Utilization in Bangladesh

Several studies have been conducted on the utilization of fish scales from seafoodprocessing waste in
Bangladesh. Although data are available about the fish production per year in Bangladesh.

Fish is a staple in the Bangladeshi diet, contributing around 60% of the animal protein intake for the
population. Species like hilsa, rohu, catla, and various types of pangasius are particularly popular.

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In Bangladesh fish is produces mainly for consumption. Other than that some parts of fish are utilized such
as:

Table 02: Utilization of fish by-products in Bangladesh

Fishery General Uses Present Situation/Uses Recommendations
Waste in Bangladesh
Product
Fish Used mainly in fish feeds and Used in animal feed and Can be used in animal
silage/powder moist feed pellets fish feed feed as hydrolysate and
in poultry feed.
Fish Waste fish bones modified with Exported, fishmeal, and Fashion designers can
scales/bones potassium hydroxide (KOH) are landfill use them as ornaments
utilized as a cost-effective catalyst
in the transesterification of refined
Fish collagen Used in the cosmetics industry for Fish feed and Empirical research is
protecting skin moisture, pharmaceuticals. needed for various uses.

4. How Value Addition, by-products uses and maximize utilizations in fisheries can contribute
in economic growth and environmental sustainability in Bangladesh

Fish and fish products are consumed as food all over the world. With other seafoods, they provides the
world's prime source of high-quality protein; 14–16 percent of the animal protein consumed worldwide.
Over one billion people rely on fish as their primary source of animal protein. The value addition can be
done by processing the fish and by utilizing the by-products

Adding value to fish products can increase revenue by creating higher-priced items, improving food safety,
and meeting consumer preferences, both locally and internationally.

Examples and Benefits:

Processed Fish Products: Producing processed products like fillets, fish balls, nuggets, and canned fish
caters to urban consumers and export markets. This not only increases product variety but also creates
employment in processing industries.

Ready-to-Eat Products: Developing ready-to-eat fish products for the growing middle class and export
markets can add significant value. Convenient packaging, like vacuum-sealed fish or frozen fillets, attracts
busy consumers looking for quick, high-quality meals.

Quality Improvements: By investing in quality control, cold storage, and packaging, Bangladesh can
reduce post-harvest losses, improve product quality, and ensure compliance with international standards for
exports, increasing the competitiveness of Bangladeshi fish in global markets.

Utilizing Fish By-Products

Large volumes of by-products are generated in fish processing, including fish heads, skin, bones, scales,
and entrails. Efficiently using these can reduce waste, generate additional revenue, and create
environmentally friendly products.

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Fishmeal and Fish Oil: By-products can be converted into fishmeal and fish oil, commonly used in animal
feed and aquaculture. This creates a sustainable source of animal nutrition while lowering dependence on
wild-caught fish for feed.

Organic Fertilizers: Fish waste can be composted or processed into organic fertilizers, supporting
agriculture while reducing synthetic fertilizer use.

Biofuel: Extracting oil from fish waste for biofuel production is a sustainable option that can help meet
Bangladesh’s energy needs in a cleaner way.

Economic Contributions

Job Creation: Value-added processing, by-product industries, and logistics systems generate employment
across various skill levels, from rural fishers to urban processing and distribution workers.

Increased Export Revenue: High-value and processed fish products can open new export opportunities,
increasing foreign exchange earnings. By meeting international standards, Bangladesh can expand to more
lucrative markets in Europe, North America, and beyond.

Environmental Sustainability

Reduced Waste and Pollution: Efficient utilization of by-products and improved waste management
practices lower the volume of waste discarded into rivers and oceans, reducing pollution and environmental
degradation.

Lower Overfishing Pressure: By enhancing the value of each fish caught, fishers can earn more without
increasing the volume of catch, reducing pressure on wild fish stocks and helping maintain biodiversity.

Conclusion
We are putting more and more fishing efforts on the existing resources and if we continue like this at some
point all the existing stocks will be depleted. So we have to know the trends for sustainable management
and we need to learn how to utilize the most of the resources. So the information give us an insight about
the management of the resources we have.

References

FAO. 2022. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022. Towards Blue Transformation. Rome,
FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc0461en

FAO. 2024. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024 – Blue Transformation in action. Rome.
https://doi.org/10.4060/cd0683en

Mozumder MMH, Uddin MM, Schneider P, Raiyan MHI, Trisha MGA, Tahsin TH, Newase S. Sustainable
Utilization of Fishery Waste in Bangladesh—A Qualitative Study for a Circular Bioeconomy
Initiative. Fishes. 2022; 7(2):84. https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes7020084