The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020

particularly in SIDS. For these populations, fish 
often represents an affordable source of animal 
protein that may not only be cheaper than other 
animal protein sources, but preferred and part 
of local and traditional recipes. In 2017, fish 
accounted for about 17 percent of total animal 
protein, and 7 percent of all proteins, consumed 
globally. Moreover, fish provided about 3.3 billion 
people with almost 20 percent of their average 
per capita intake of animal protein (
Figure 25
). 
In Bangladesh, Cambodia, the Gambia, Ghana, 
Indonesia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka and some 
SIDS, fish contributed 50 percent or more of total 
animal protein intake. 
Average daily consumption of total fat supplied 
by fish is also relatively low, at about 1.2 g per 
capita, but fish is an important source of healthy 
long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, essential 
FIGURE 25
CONTRIBUTION OF FISH TO ANIMAL PROTEIN SUPPLY, AVERAGE 2015–2017
NOTE: Final boundary between the Sudan and South Sudan has not yet been determined.
SOURCE: FAO.
FISH PROTEINS (GRAMS PER CAPITA PER DAY)
> 20% contribution of fish to animal protein supply
No data
< 2 g
2–4 g
4–6 g
6–10 g
> 10 g