Source
Source Contact person/organisation Contact person/organisationFor any further questions please contact: tad.contact@oecd.org
Direct source Direct sourceFAO. 2023. Fishery and Aquaculture Statistics. Global aquaculture production 1950-2021 (FishStatJ). In: FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Division [online]. Rome. Updated 2023.
Data Characteristics Data Characteristics Date last updated Date last updated2023, September
Other data characteristics Other data characteristicsThe annual period used is the calendar year (1 January - 31 December), with the exceptions of data for some countries for which a split-year is used. Split-year data are shown under the calendar year in which the split-year ends.
For exceptions, please see the country-level metadata.
Unit of measure used Unit of measure usedProduction of fish, crustaceans and molluscs is expressed in live weight, that is the nominal weight of the aquatic organisms at the time of capture. The harvest of aquatic plants is given in wet weight. Quantities are given in tonnes (=1000 kg). The value of aquaculture, converted from local currencies, is reported in US dollars using appropriate exchange rates and is expressed in nominal terms.
Population & Scope Population & Scope Statistical population Statistical populationThe statistical population is the set of countries participating in the work of the OECD Committee for Fisheries (COFI), i.e. the OECD members plus some partners economies.
In order to facilitate analysis and comparisons over time, historical data for OECD members have been provided over as long a period as possible, often even before a country became a member of the Organisation.
Information on the membership dates of all OECD countries can be found at OECD Ratification Dates.
Concepts & Classifications Concepts & Classifications Classification(s) used Classification(s) usedFish, crustaceans, molluscs and all other aquatic organisms included in the dataset have been classified according to approximately 700 commercial species items, further arranged within the 50 groups of species constituting the nine divisions of the FAO International Standard Statistical Classification of Aquatic Animals and Plants (ISSCAAP). The taxonomic code descriptors are taken from the "ASFIS list of species for fishery statistics purposes" (version 2022). Please note that the list of species disseminated might not adhere entirely to ASFIS (version 2022) due to differing publication schedules.
Key statistical concept Key statistical conceptAquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms including fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants. Farming implies some form of intervention in the rearing process to enhance production, such as regular stocking, feeding, protection from predators, etc. Farming also implies individual or corporate ownership of the stock being cultivated. For statistical purposes, aquatic organisms which are harvested by an individual or corporate body which has owned them throughout their rearing period contribute to aquaculture while aquatic organisms which are exploitable by the public as a common property resource, with or without appropriate licenses, are the harvest of fisheries.
The methodological reference document for fisheries and aquaculture statistics is the CWP Handbook of Fishery Statistics.
Other Aspects Other Aspects Quality comments Quality commentsSeveral countries still report their aquaculture production by large groups of species. In these circumstances the data presented by individual species items are likely to be underestimated. Therefore, when examining the statistics for a particular species, it should be noted that an unknown proportion of the production for that species might have been reported by the national office under the generic, family or order name of the species, or even more roughly as 'fishes not identified'. Consequently, species item totals frequently underestimate the real production of the individual species.
Where necessary, any data published in previous releases of this dataset have been revised. Where the figures in the current release differ from those previously published, the amended data represent the most recent version. Some statistics provided to FAO by national offices, in particular those for the last year, are provisional and may be amended in future editions.
Prepared by the Statistics Team, Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, FAO, on the basis of information available as of 31 December 2021.
Recommended uses and limitations Recommended uses and limitationsFigures flagged with 'E' corresponds to FAO estimates from available sources of information.
For any further questions please contact: tad.contact@oecd.org
FAO. 2023. Fishery and Aquaculture Statistics. Global aquaculture production 1950-2021 (FishStatJ). In: FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Division [online]. Rome. Updated 2023.
Production of fish, crustaceans and molluscs is expressed in live weight, that is the nominal weight of the aquatic organisms at the time of capture. The harvest of aquatic plants is given in wet weight. Quantities are given in tonnes (=1000 kg). The value of aquaculture, converted from local currencies, is reported in US dollars using appropriate exchange rates and is expressed in nominal terms.
2023, September
The annual period used is the calendar year (1 January - 31 December), with the exceptions of data for some countries for which a split-year is used. Split-year data are shown under the calendar year in which the split-year ends.
For exceptions, please see the country-level metadata.
The statistical population is the set of countries participating in the work of the OECD Committee for Fisheries (COFI), i.e. the OECD members plus some partners economies.
In order to facilitate analysis and comparisons over time, historical data for OECD members have been provided over as long a period as possible, often even before a country became a member of the Organisation.
Information on the membership dates of all OECD countries can be found at OECD Ratification Dates.
Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms including fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants. Farming implies some form of intervention in the rearing process to enhance production, such as regular stocking, feeding, protection from predators, etc. Farming also implies individual or corporate ownership of the stock being cultivated. For statistical purposes, aquatic organisms which are harvested by an individual or corporate body which has owned them throughout their rearing period contribute to aquaculture while aquatic organisms which are exploitable by the public as a common property resource, with or without appropriate licenses, are the harvest of fisheries.
The methodological reference document for fisheries and aquaculture statistics is the CWP Handbook of Fishery Statistics.
Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and all other aquatic organisms included in the dataset have been classified according to approximately 700 commercial species items, further arranged within the 50 groups of species constituting the nine divisions of the FAO International Standard Statistical Classification of Aquatic Animals and Plants (ISSCAAP). The taxonomic code descriptors are taken from the "ASFIS list of species for fishery statistics purposes" (version 2022). Please note that the list of species disseminated might not adhere entirely to ASFIS (version 2022) due to differing publication schedules.
Figures flagged with 'E' corresponds to FAO estimates from available sources of information.
Several countries still report their aquaculture production by large groups of species. In these circumstances the data presented by individual species items are likely to be underestimated. Therefore, when examining the statistics for a particular species, it should be noted that an unknown proportion of the production for that species might have been reported by the national office under the generic, family or order name of the species, or even more roughly as 'fishes not identified'. Consequently, species item totals frequently underestimate the real production of the individual species.
Where necessary, any data published in previous releases of this dataset have been revised. Where the figures in the current release differ from those previously published, the amended data represent the most recent version. Some statistics provided to FAO by national offices, in particular those for the last year, are provisional and may be amended in future editions.
Prepared by the Statistics Team, Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, FAO, on the basis of information available as of 31 December 2021.