Global production bouncing back, says GSA survey

THE aquaculture sector worldwide is set to record substantial growth after a slump in 2020, the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic.

That’s the prediction of the annual production surveys and forecast from the Global Seafood Alliance (GSA – formerly known as the Global Aquaculture Alliance).

The two surveys – for shrimp and finfish – were produced by the GSA in association with Rabobank, with additional data from the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and analysts Kontali. Estimates of growth for the next few years were based on a survey of producers.

The GSA said shrimp production for 2021 would be up 8.9% on 2020’s figures to just under 4.5 million tonnes.An estimate based on official FAO data gives a much larger estimate of around 7 million tonnes, but this includes data from China, Indonesia and Vietnam, which the GSA believes is overstated.

Global finfish production for 2021 was estimated to be around 38 million tonnes, up 2.5% on 2020 levels, with a further 2.7% growth expected in 2022.

For salmonids, which is a highvalue product group, but only the fourth largest by volume, the GSA said it expected 2021 production would total around

2.8 million tonnes, an increase of 4.4% on 2020.The GSA said strong growth in Norway and the smaller producing nations had offset a poor year for Chile.