Global Seafood Supply by Species

In order to meet the rising demand for seafood, fisheries globally have been adopting aquaculture. Over the past two decades, the global seafood supply has shifted from being predominantly wild-caught to an increasingly farmed industry. This is evident in the rising share of aquaculture in total seafood production, which has increased from 31% in CY 2004 to 53% in CY 2024, growing at a CAGR of 4.6%. In contrast, wild capture production has remained largely flat. A principal factor underpinning aquaculture’s rising prominence is the range of supply-side constraints confronting wild fisheries. Habitat degradation, ecosystem imbalances, and environmental fluctuations collectively impede the replenishment of wild fish stocks, while regulatory measures—such as stricter catch quotas, gear restrictions, and seasonal or area-specific prohibitions—further limit growth in wild-capture operations. In contrast, aquaculture benefits from controlled breeding, optimized feed strategies, and advanced disease-management protocols, enabling higher and more predictable yields. This controlled production environment supports year-round output that mitigates natural variability and circumvents many limitations inherent to capture fisheries. Consequently, aquaculture not only addresses these supply-related challenges but also reduces fishing pressures on wild stocks, thereby contributing to the sector’s long-term sustainability objectives.

Aquaculture trends by species

Finfish, which dominate global seafood output, are nearly evenly split between wild capture and aquaculture. While species like tuna, pollock, and cod remain primarily wild-caught due to challenges in large-scale farming, aquaculture has become the primary source for species like salmon, tilapia, and carp. The farmed share of finfish production has steadily increased over the past two decades, now accounting for over 46% of total finfish supply in CY 2024, driven by efficiency gains and growing demand for controlled, sustainable sources. Crustaceans, historically reliant on wild-capture fisheries, have seen a dramatic shift toward aquaculture, particularly for shrimp. Farmed crustaceans now make up over 70% of total crustacean supply, fuelled by rising consumer demand and advancements in disease-resistant breeding techniques. Molluscs, led by bivalves such as oysters, mussels, and scallops, have experienced some of the highest levels of aquaculture adoption. Over 77% of global mollusc production now comes from farmed sources, with bivalve farming playing a key role in both seafood supply and environmental sustainability through water filtration benefits. Cephalopods, in contrast, remain overwhelmingly wild-caught, with squid and octopus harvests fluctuating due to environmental conditions and stock management efforts.

The seafood value chain is highly fragmented and complex, varying across the major species such as finfish, crustaceans, molluscs, and other aquatic animals, with distinct harvesting, processing, and distribution stages, leading to significant value pool and margin distribution among the intermediaries.

The fragmented seafood value chain creates significant operational challenges across stakeholders. It involves numerous intermediaries—from fishermen to processors, distributors, and retailers—operating in disconnected networks across geographies. This disjointed structure leads to inefficiencies in traceability, inconsistent product quality, and higher costs. Moreover, the diversity of species and varying processing requirements further complicate coordination efforts. The lack of standardized systems and tools exacerbates these issues, resulting in operational bottlenecks that impact operations and profitability. Building on these systemic challenges, each stakeholder in the seafood value chain faces unique operational hurdles that affect their efficiency and profitability.