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The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024: refrigeration contributes to sustain aquatic food supplies amid record high production

Figures from FAO and IIR highlight the importance of the seafood cold chain for a sustainable aquatic food supply through 2050.

The 2024 edition of “The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture”, released by FAO (UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation), analyses the status and trends of global fisheries and aquaculture up to 2022. In 2022, the global production of aquatic animals reached a new world high of 185 million tonnes, an increase of 4 percent from 2020 [1]. Harvests from fisheries and aquaculture are extremely perishable, therefore the supply chain's quality is crucial to reduce the strain on aquatic resources and foster the sustainability of the sector.

 

According to FAO, freezing is the main method of preserving fishery and aquaculture products for food purposes, accounting for 62% of the 93 million of tonnes of processed aquatic animal production for human consumption in 2022 [1] (63% in 2020). When including live, fresh or chilled aquatic products, freezing ranks second.

 

Significant regional differences exist in preservation and processing methods. In 2022, over 55% of the aquatic animal food production destined for human consumption in high-income countries was in frozen form. In contrast, for low-income countries, only 7% was in frozen form, about 20 percent in cured form and about 70% in live, fresh or chilled form.

 

Utilisation of world fisheries and aquaculture production of aquatic animals 1962-2022 (source: FAO)

 

 

FAO estimates that millions of tonnes of aquatic products are lost every year, despite major progress in processing, refrigeration and transportation. In 2011, FAO had estimated that up to 35% of the global fishery and aquaculture production was either lost or wasted annual [1]. In 2017, IIR had estimated that 19% of fish and seafood produced for human consumption was lost due to lack of refrigeration, especially in Africa (47%) and Latin America (38%) [2].  

In Africa and Latin America, fisheries production is mainly lost because of inadequate preservation infrastructure and expertise. Alarmingly, the FAO forecasts that growth in aquatic food supply will need to increase significantly to sustain 2022 per capita consumption levels through 2050 [1]. A more extensive and energy-efficient cold chain could reduce food losses by close to half and therefore limit the need for increased production [3].

 

Required growth in supply of aquatic animal foods to sustain 2022 per capita consumption levels through to 2050 (source: FAO)

 

 

Sources

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

[2] Sarr J., Toublanc C., Dupont J. L., Guilpart J. The sustainability of the food cold chain. Part 1- the carbon emission savings related to food losses reduction. Proceedings of the 26th IIR International Congress of Refrigeration: Paris, France, August 21-25, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.18462/iir.icr.2023.1172

[3] Sarr J., Dupont J. L., Guilpart J. The carbon footprint of the cold chain, 7th Informatory Note on Refrigeration and Food. Summary for policymakers. http://dx.doi.org/10.18462/iir.INfood07.04.2021