Recent developments in aquaculture statistics

Abstract

The FAO Fisheries Information, Data and Statistics Unit has been systematically collecting and disseminating global aquaculture production by weight and value since 1984. The mechanisms for collecting data and the coverage and quality of data on production from aquaculture provided by countries to FAO have been constantly under review, with the aim of improving their quality and relevance to future national and global needs. Such future needs are highlighted and a discussion presented as to how some of these needs are being currently addressed. The following topics are covered: aquaculture as an economic activity; definition of aquaculture; unidentified aquatic organisms; proposed changes for reporting global production from fisheries; quantitative structural information on aquaculture; and, current status and constraints of collecting aquaculture statistics.