The “Aquaculture Big Numbers” research project seeks to: provide baseline information on the present status of the aquaculture sector from a human development perspective; identify the types and numbers of people employed by the sector; and explore the role of aquaculture in providing social and economic services at a global level, with a particular emphasis on small-scale stakeholders. The research findings presented here are based on a global synthesis of information from various sources and 9 country case studies undertaken in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
This document has been developed through a collaborative programme involving FAO and WorldFish, and financed by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA). It contributes to FAO’s efforts to enhance understanding of the contribution of aquaculture to poverty alleviation, food security and towards improving the livelihoods of many rural communities engaged in aquatic production. The authors thank SIDA for its generous support.