Fish is an essential part of our diet, providing essential nutrients and a delicious taste. It’s no surprise that the global demand for fish continues to rise, leading to an increase in fish production worldwide.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the top 10 fish-producing countries and their contributions to the global fish industry.
List of Top 10 Fish-Producing Countries
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), over 178 million tonnes of fish were produced globally in 2021. Asia remains the leading continent in fish production, followed by Africa and Latin America.
Here’s a list of the top 10 fish-producing countries:
|
Rank |
Country |
Fish Production (Metric Tons) |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
China |
67.8 million tonnes |
|
2 |
Indonesia |
16.7 million tonnes |
|
3 |
India |
10.9 million tonnes |
|
4 |
Vietnam |
6.4 million tonnes |
|
5 |
Bangladesh |
6.3 million tonnes |
|
6 |
Norway |
4.9 million tonnes |
|
7 |
Chile |
4.4 million tonnes |
|
8 |
Japan |
3.1 million tonnes |
|
9 |
United States |
2.8 million tonnes |
|
10 |
Egypt |
2.7 million tonnes |
1. China
China has been the leading producer of fish for many years now, with a production of 67.8 million tonnes in 2021. This accounts for almost 38% of the global fish production. China’s vast coastline, advanced technology, and extensive aquaculture practices contribute to its high fish production. The country is also known for its large-scale production of carp, tilapia, and other freshwater fish.
- China has over 1.4 billion mouths to feed, which makes food security a top priority for the country. This is one of the main reasons why China has invested heavily in aquaculture.
- They mainly farm fish like carp, tilapia, catfish, and prawns.
- Most of China’s fish farms are in the southern parts because the weather is good, and there’s plenty of water.
- China doesn’t just use old ways of farming fish; they also use high-tech stuff like recirculating systems and fancy ways of combining different types of aquaculture to make more fish efficiently.
2. Indonesia
Indonesia is the second-largest producer of fish globally, with a production of 16.7 million tonnes in 2021. The country’s tropical climate and extensive coastline make it ideal for aquaculture and wild-caught fisheries. Indonesia is known for its production of shrimp, tuna, and pangasius.
- Indonesia is surrounded by big oceans, which makes it perfect for fishing. The country has a huge coastline and a lot of ocean territory where they can fish.
- Fishing is a big deal in Indonesia and helps provide fish for people all over the world. Indonesia makes about 2% of all the fish in the world, making it the third biggest fish producer.
- Every year, Indonesia catches over 6 million tons of fish, which is worth about $4 billion.
- Indonesia’s waters are full of different kinds of fish, around 5,800 species! This makes Indonesia’s oceans one of the most diverse places for marine life. They have lots of popular fish like tuna, mackerel, shrimp, and squid that people want to buy all over the world.
3. India
India ranks third in global fish production, with a production of 10.9 million tonnes in 2021. The country’s vast coastline and diverse water bodies allow for a wide range of marine and freshwater fish production. India is known for its production of shrimp, catfish, and carp.
- Fishing has been really important for India’s economy for a long time. It’s not just about getting food; it’s also how many people make money, especially those living near the sea or rivers. About 14 million people in India work in fishing or jobs related to it, which helps the country’s economy a lot.
- India has a lot of different kinds of places where fish can live because of its varied land and weather. That’s why there are over 1,900 kinds of fish in the ocean and over 2,500 in freshwater rivers and lakes. Some of the fish you might have heard of include sardines, mackerel, tuna, pomfret, rohu, catfish, and carp.
- The Indian government is trying to make fishing better and safer for the environment. They set up the National Fisheries Development Board in 2006 to help with this.
4. Vietnam
Vietnam is the fourth-largest producer of fish, with a production of 6.4 million tonnes in 2021. The country’s aquaculture industry is one of the most advanced and efficient in the world. Vietnam is known for its production of shrimp, pangasius, and catfish.
- Vietnam has a long coastline and lots of rivers, lakes, and deltas where fish can live happily. This makes it a great place for all kinds of fish.
- The Mekong Delta, which is one of the biggest in the world, is super important for making freshwater fish in Vietnam. Plus, Vietnam has over 3,260 islands, so there’s plenty of places for fishing in the sea too.
- Vietnam makes sure its seafood is safe to eat. They have strict rules set up by the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department to make sure seafood is processed and exported safely.
- More and more people want to eat fish as the world’s population grows, and Vietnam is ready to provide it. They have lots of fish, good ways to raise them, and make sure they’re good quality.
- Making and selling fish helps Vietnam’s economy a lot. About 20% of all the stuff Vietnam sells to other countries comes from fish, and it gives jobs to millions of people.
5. Bangladesh
Bangladesh ranks fifth in global fish production, with a production of 6.3 million tonnes in 2021. The country’s extensive river systems and freshwater bodies make it ideal for aquaculture and inland fisheries. Bangladesh is known for its production of shrimp, catfish, and tilapia.
- Bangladesh is the fifth largest fish-making country in the world, after China, India, and Vietnam.
- Lots of people in Bangladesh work in fishing – more than 17 million! It’s one of the biggest ways people find jobs there.
- Every year, Bangladesh makes about 4 million tons of fish. That’s almost 3% of all the fish made in the world.
- Fish is super important in Bangladesh’s diet. Almost 60% of the protein they eat comes from fish.
- Bangladesh has lots of water inside the country, covering about 5.5 million hectares. This is a great place for all kinds of fish to live, both local ones and ones from other places.
6. Norway
Norway is the only European country to make it to the top 10 fish-producing countries, ranking sixth with a production of 4.9 million tonnes in 2021. The country’s cold-water coastal regions are perfect for salmon farming, making it the largest producer of this popular fish.
- In the 1970s, Norway started focusing more on farming salmon instead of just catching fish in the wild. This was a big change and made Norway really good at making salmon.
- Today, Norway makes tons of salmon, over 1 million tons each year! It’s one of the top things Norway sells to other countries.
- Cod is another big fish in Norway, with over 290,000 tons caught every year. Norwegians love eating cod, especially in dishes like bacalao and fish cakes.
- Herring is also really important in Norway, with over 150,000 tons produced yearly. People like to eat it pickled or smoked because it’s full of protein and healthy fats.
7. Chile
Chile ranks seventh in global fish production, with a production of 4.4 million tonnes in 2021. The country’s long coastline and favorable ocean conditions make it ideal for aquaculture, with salmon being the primary fish produced.
- Fishing has been important in Chile since ancient times, but it really started growing as a business in the 19th century.
- Nowadays, fishing is a big part of Chile’s money-making. It gives nearly 2% of all the money the country makes and jobs to lots of people.
- Salmon farming is the biggest thing in Chile’s fishing industry. More than 90% of the salmon in Chile comes from fish farms. Chile’s clean water and good weather make it perfect for farming salmon, and it’s one of the biggest salmon producers in the world.
- Chile’s fish industry is a big deal for its economy. It’s one of the top three things Chile sells to other countries, bringing in over $6 billion in 2019. This not only helps Chile make more money but also gives jobs to many people. The fishing industry also creates other jobs in areas like processing and transporting fish, which helps the economy grow even more.
8. Japan
Japan is the eighth-largest producer of fish globally, with a production of 3.1 million tonnes in 2021. The country’s advanced technology and efficient fishing practices contribute to its high production of tuna, mackerel, and sardines.
- Japan has been fishing for a really long time, like over 2000 years. Fishing used to be super important for food and making money.
- Japan’s location and weather are great for different kinds of fishing, like deep-sea fishing, fishing near the coast, and farming fish.
- Fishing is a big part of Japan’s money-making. Every year, the fishing industry brings in over $20 billion. It gives jobs to lots of people, from fishermen to people who process and sell the fish.
- Tuna is a really big deal in Japan. It makes up more than 20% of all the fish Japan catches, and Japanese people love to eat tuna. But they also catch other popular fish like horse mackerel, sardines, squid, salmon, and shrimp.
9. United States
The United States ranks ninth in global fish production, with a production of 2.8 million tonnes in 2021. The country’s extensive coastline and diverse water bodies allow for both wild-caught fisheries and aquaculture practices.
- The United States has a really long coastline, about 95,000 miles! This means there are lots of different places for fish to live, like the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast, the Pacific Ocean on the west coast, and the Gulf of Mexico in the south.
- America’s rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds also have tons of fish. There are over 250,000 rivers and streams, plus thousands of lakes and ponds, where people can go freshwater fishing.
- America wants to make sure there are always enough fish for everyone to catch, so they have strict rules for commercial fishing. These rules say how many fish you can catch, which fish you can catch, and how you can catch them. This helps keep the fish population healthy and makes sure people don’t catch too many fish.
10. Egypt
Egypt rounds up the top 10 fish-producing countries, with a production of 2.7 million tonnes in 2021. The country’s warm climate and Nile River provide ideal conditions for aquaculture and inland fisheries. Egypt is known for its production of tilapia, carp, and catfish.
- Egypt has a long coastline, about 3,300 kilometers, along the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, which is great for fishing.
- There are lots of different kinds of fish in Egypt, like ones from the Nile River, the Red Sea, and fish they raise in farms in places like the Nile Delta and Lake Nasser.
- More than a million people in Egypt have jobs in fishing, which makes it one of the biggest ways people find work in the country.
- Fishing is a big deal for Egypt’s money. When they sell fish to other countries, it adds up to about 10% of all the stuff Egypt sells.
- Egypt is also really good at farming fish. They’re one of the top ten countries in the world for raising fish in farms, and the most important kind of fish they raise is called tilapia.
Summary
The top 10 fish-producing countries are essential players in the global fish industry, meeting the increasing demand for seafood worldwide. Their advanced technology, favorable geographical conditions, and efficient fishing practices have allowed them to produce a wide variety of fish, contributing to food security and economic growth. So, next time you enjoy a delicious fish dish, remember the contribution of these top fish-producing countries.
FAQs on Top 10 Fish Producing Countries
Which countries are among the top 10 fish-producing countries?
China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Norway, Chile, the United States, Japan, and Egypt are the top ten nations that produce fish.
Which country produces the most fish in the world?
China leads the globe in fish production and makes a major contribution to global fish production.
What factors contribute to a country’s high fish production?
A nation’s high fish production can be attributed to a number of things, such as its extensive coastline, wealth of freshwater resources, temperate climate, support from the government, and adoption of contemporary aquaculture techniques.
Which countries are major contributors to global seafood exports?
Thailand, China, India, Vietnam, Norway, and other nations contribute significantly to the world’s seafood exports. Their exports comprise a range of fish and seafood items that cater to global demand.
Which type of fish is commonly produced by these top fish-producing countries?
Fish production varies by nation, but common species include cod, herring, mackerel, sardines, prawns, catfish, salmon, tuna and tilapia.