According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)'s Agricultural Outlook 2019–2028, the outlook for aquaculture was a positive one. While capture fisheries once dominated the procurement of fish and seafood, this had changed significantly by the late 2010s. At that time, aquaculture was expected to surpass capture fisheries, accounting for 55 percent of total production by 2028. This was attributed to limitations in capture fisheries.

Findings from "Fish to 2030: Prospects for Fisheries and Aquaculture"—a joint study by the World Bank, the United Nations's FAO, and the International Food Policy Research Institute—reveal that aquaculture will provide nearly two-thirds of global fish consumption by 2030, due to rising demand from an emerging middle class. Commercial fisheries are over harvested, so much of this demand will be met by aquaculture. Aquaculture's ability to meet this demand, however, will depend on the growth and development of the industry. Many universities are currently benefiting from grants that allow them to explore better methods of growing and harvesting product and preventing disease. Advances in these areas will help to lower risk and increase profits, attracting more interest in the industry. The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment of agricultural managers (a category that includes aquaculturists) will show little or no change through 2028, but that there should be ample opportunities for knowledgeable agriculture managers of all types, especially those catering to niche markets, such as seafood.

The field of aquaculture is regulated, but on the whole the government seems interested in helping to support and develop the industry. Federal assistance with development of needed aquaculture drugs and chemicals is one sign of this.

Aquaculturists

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Introduction

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