Key Findings:
- Aquaculture plays an essential role in feeding a growing population, fuelling economic growth, and reducing the food sector’s greenhouse emissions. It is the fastest-growing food production sector, now supplying most of the world’s seafood.
- Aquaculture could generate as many as 22 million new jobs by 2050, if stakeholders capitalize on the $1.5 trillion dollar investment opportunity in the sector over the same period.
- Governments, development finance institutions, and private investors will play a critical role in scaling sustainable aquaculture and reducing investor risks.
- Countries are stepping up to power a sustainable aquaculture future. For example, shrimp in Ecuador, salmon in Chile, Pangasius in Vietnam are leading global exports, while China and Bangladesh are primarily supplying their own respective domestic markets with carp and Black Tiger Shrimp.
The aquaculture sector is poised for transformative growth over the next 25 years, but the pace and scale of that expansion will depend heavily on investment levels, according to a new report from the World Bank and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
In Harnessing the Waters: A Trillion Dollar Investment Opportunity in Sustainable Aquaculture, the two organizations lay out multiple investment scenarios for the industry. Under the current trajectory—roughly $500 billion invested annually—aquaculture is expected to grow at 1.9% annually, reaching 159 million metric tons in production (excluding seaweeds) and generating between 8 to 14 million new jobs by 2050.
However, the report makes a strong case for greater ambition. A cumulative $1.5 trillion investment through 2050 could unlock far more substantial returns: up to 225 million metric tons of production and 13 to 22 million new jobs.
“To realize aquaculture’s full potential, we must shift toward practices that are not only productive, but also environmentally responsible, socially inclusive, and economically viable,” said Genevieve Connors, Acting Global Director of the World Bank’s Environment Department. “This is a call to action—to deepen collaboration, invest boldly in new aquaculture technologies, and strengthen public-private alignment.”
The report underscores a clear message: sustainable aquaculture is not only critical for global food security but represents a high-impact investment opportunity for forward-looking stakeholders.