World fish trade exceeds USD 100 billion for the first time in history

Sumber : http://www.globefish.org/dynamisk.php4?id=4713

FAO estimates total fish imports to have exceeded USD 100 billion in 2008, for the first time in history. The value of fish exports is estimated slightly lower. About half of world fish exports originate in developing countries, while 80% of world imports go to the developed part of the world. Net exports from developing countries reached USD 25.4 billion in 2008, thus emphasizing that fishery products are an important source of foreign exchange earnings for developing countries. Japan regained its top position among fish importers in 2008, after losing it in 2007 to the USA. The EU accounts for more than 40% of world fish imports in value terms, but intra-EU trade is included in these figures.

China consolidated its position as top fish exporter with USD 10.2 billion in 2008. Fishery products imported as raw material and re-processed in the country form a considerable portion of exports. In fact fish imports are growing every year and reached USD 5.2 billion in 2008. Norway is the second major exporter of fishery products, with USD 7.4 billion, an 18% increase over 2007. A huge proportion of this increase comes from higher salmon exports.

FAO estimates that production of fish products (excluding seaweed and marine mammals) reached 141.6 million tonnes in 2008, a slight increase (+0.9%) over 2007. While capture fisheries were more or less stable at 90 million tonnes, aquaculture grew by 2.5% to 51.6 million tonnes. Aquaculture production contributes 45% of total fish as food supply. Per caput consumption remained stable at 16.9 kg in 2008, of which 8.5 kg came from capture fisheries and the remainder from aquaculture.