Sustainability
Aquaculture could help meet rising protein demand while easing pressure on wild fisheries.
About 90% of global fish stocks are fully exploited or overfished, limiting the scope to increase wild catches as demand for protein continues to rise.
Aquaculture cultivates fish, shellfish and seaweed for food. It ranges from traditional ponds and cages to advanced systems designed for predictable, year-round production.
Wild fisheries cannot meet rising protein demand alone, while conventional livestock faces land and water constraints. Aquaculture can help bridge that gap with farmed seafood.
Aquaculture supplies more than half of the seafood consumed worldwide and has been the fastest-growing animal-food sector, expanding at roughly 7% annually.
Recirculating aquaculture systems treat and reuse water in land-based facilities. Operators can control temperature and oxygen while limiting freshwater withdrawals and discharge.
Brazil holds roughly 12% of the world’s renewable freshwater resources and leads Latin America in tilapia production, supporting potential growth in regional food supply and exports.
Many finfish can reach feed conversion ratios near 1.2:1, compared with more than 6:1 for beef. Efficient feed use can reduce pressure on land and water.
Investors are backing alternative feeds, recirculating systems and AI platforms. Development banks also use blended finance to help de-risk farms and supporting infrastructure.
Disease outbreaks and antibiotic overuse pose risks to farmed fish. Genomic selection, vaccines and AI-based early detection can support biosecurity and reduce reliance on antibiotics.
Aquaculture can complement livestock as demand grows and wild fisheries face limits. Better feeds, monitoring and farming systems will be key to improving efficiency and sustainability.
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