ISLAMABAD: Asia will make tremendous contribution in meeting the growing world seafood demand in the next 20 years, and is projected to make up to 70 per cent of global fish consumption by 2030, according to a new World Bank report published on Thursday.

China will likely still be at the top of the producer list of major fish species, but other Asian countries and regions will likely become stronger contributors of future aquaculture growth.

These are among the key findings of “Fish to 2030: Prospects for Fisheries and Aquaculture” – a collaboration between the World Bank, the FAO and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

The report predicts that 62pc of food fish will come from aquaculture by 2030 with the fastest supply growth likely to come from tilapia, carp, and catfish.

Global tilapia production is expected to almost double from 4.3 million tonnes to 7.3 million tonnes a year between 2010 and 2030.

The growth of global aquaculture production is projected to continue at a strong pace, until it matches the production of capture fisheries by the year 2030.

According to FAO, at present 38pc of all fish produced in the world is exported and in value terms, over two thirds of fishery exports by developing countries are directed to developed countries.

Since Asia accounts to 90pc of global shrimp aquaculture, the unaffected regions would not entirely fill the supply gap. Beyond 2030, aquaculture will likely dominate future global fish supply.