Global fisheries are facing critical sustainability challenges despite stable production levels. According to The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024—Blue Transformation in Action released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on June 7, world capture fisheries produced 92.3 million tonnes in 2022, with 79.7 million tonnes of aquatic animals caught in marine areas.
However, the fraction of marine stocks fished within biologically sustainable levels decreased to 62.3 percent in 2021, a decline of 2.3 percent from 2019. This decrease raises concerns about the long-term viability of global fishery resources.
Overfishing, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, marine environmental pollution, climate change, and other issues pose significant threats to the sustainable use of global fishery resources and the health of marine ecosystems.
China’s distant-water fisheries began in 1985, and over the past 30 years, the country has emerged as one of the world’s major nations in distant-water fishing. In 2022, China accounted for 14.3 percent of global capture fisheries production, becoming the top capture producer.
China actively engages in international fisheries governance, recognizing the importance of sustainable practices to preserve marine ecosystems. As a leading force in global fisheries, China’s role is pivotal in addressing these sustainability challenges and promoting the health of the world’s oceans.
