The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020

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2020
The 2020 edition of 
The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture
has a particular focus on 
sustainability. This reflects a number of specific considerations. First, 2020 marks the twenty-fifth 
anniversary of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (the Code). Second, several 
Sustainable Development Goal indicators mature in 2020. Third, FAO hosted the International 
Symposium on Fisheries Sustainability in late 2019, and fourth, 2020 sees the finalization of specific 
FAO guidelines on sustainable aquaculture growth, and on social sustainability along value chains. 
While Part 1 retains the format of previous editions, the structure of the rest of the publication has 
been revised. Part 2 opens with a special section marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Code. 
It also focuses on issues coming to the fore, in particular, those related to Sustainable Development 
Goal 14 and its indicators for which FAO is the “custodian” agency. In addition, Part 2 covers 
various aspects of fisheries and aquaculture sustainability. The topics discussed range widely, from 
data and information systems to ocean pollution, product legality, user rights and climate change 
adaptation. Part 3 now forms the final part of the publication, covering projections and emerging 
issues such as new technologies and aquaculture biosecurity. It concludes by outlining steps towards 
a new vision for capture fisheries. 
The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture
aims to provide objective, reliable and up-to-date 
information to a wide audience – policymakers, managers, scientists, stakeholders and indeed 
everyone interested in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
THE STATE OF 
WORLD FISHERIES 
AND AQUACULTURE
SUSTAINABILITY
IN ACTION
THE STATE OF
THE WORLD