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Screen 1: Estimated numbers of individuals in annual global aquaculture production (FAO) of fish species (2015)

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This page shows FAO reported fish aquaculture production tonnages for 2015 by species category together with the estimated mean weight (EMW) (obtained in this study) and estimated fish numbers. For species categories where no EMW was obtained, a generic mean weight was used to estimate numbers. Derivation of these generic mean weights are shown in the totals section, obtained by scrolling to the bottom. The overall estimate of fish numbers is also shown there.

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LineSpeciesproduction (t)Estimated
mean
weight
(EMW)
(g)
EMW idGeneric
mean
weight
(g)
Estimated
numbers
(millions)
1Grass carp(=White amur) (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)5,822,869500-2,500EMW-872,329 - 11,646
2Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)5,125,461300-1,500EMW-1823,417 - 17,085
3Common carp (Cyprinus carpio)4,328,083500-2,500EMW-571,731 - 8,656
4Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)3,930,579250-800EMW-1294,913 - 15,722
5Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis)3,402,870500-1,500EMW-292,269 - 6,806
6Carassius spp (Carassius spp)2,913,160150-400EMW-5357,283 - 19,421
7Catla (Catla catla)2,764,944300-2,000EMW-431,382 - 9,216
8Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)2,381,5763,614-8,434EMW-21282 - 659
9Freshwater fishes nei (Osteichthyes)2,071,737322-1,0811,916 - 6,433
10Roho labeo (Labeo rohita)1,785,900300-1,500EMW-1671,191 - 5,953
11Pangas catfishes nei (Pangasius spp)1,609,026500-1,500EMW-1421,073 - 3,218
12Tilapias nei (Oreochromis(=Tilapia) spp)1,243,781250-800EMW-2151,555 - 4,975
13Milkfish (Chanos chanos)1,115,095250-500EMW-1222,230 - 4,460
14Marine fishes nei (Osteichthyes)1,056,405322-1,081977 - 3,280
15Torpedo-shaped catfishes nei (Clarias spp)849,474322-1,081786 - 2,638
16Wuchang bream (Megalobrama amblycephala)796,830450-500EMW-2291,594 - 1,771
17Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)761,766210-5,000EMW-155152 - 3,627
18Black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus)596,2402,000-3,000EMW-30199 - 298
19Cyprinids nei (Cyprinidae)519,845322-1,081481 - 1,614
20Snakehead (Channa argus)495,881322-1,081459 - 1,540
21Mrigal carp (Cirrhinus mrigala)467,605300-1,100EMW-124425 - 1,559
22Amur catfish (Silurus asotus)454,484322-1,081420 - 1,411
23Blue-Nile tilapia, hybrid 445,002322-1,081412 - 1,382
24Striped catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus)419,387500-1,500EMW-206280 - 839
25Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)411,790340-680EMW-45606 - 1,211
26Asian swamp eel (Monopterus albus)367,590322-1,081340 - 1,141
27Pond loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus)367,214322-1,081340 - 1,140
28Yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)355,72550-200EMW-2301,779 - 7,115
29Largemouth black bass (Micropterus salmoides)354,107680-680EMW-110521
30Mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi)298,057500-500EMW-115596
31Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica)266,731100-250EMW-1001,067 - 2,667
32Chinese longsnout catfish (Leiocassis longirostris)250,995322-1,081232 - 779
33North African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)246,477500-1,500EMW-132164 - 493
34Pirapatinga (Piaractus brachypomus)241,638500-1,000EMW-147242 - 483
35Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)166,794300-400EMW-81417 - 556
36Mullets nei (Mugilidae)164,937322-1,081153 - 512
37European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax)162,399400-500EMW-72325 - 406
38Groupers nei (Epinephelus spp)153,944322-1,081142 - 478
39Large yellow croaker (Larimichthys croceus)148,616322-1,081137 - 461
40Coho(=Silver) salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)140,916322-1,081130 - 438
41Japanese amberjack (Seriola quinqueradiata)140,4293,500-6,000EMW-9923 - 40
42Cachama (Colossoma macropomum)138,916500-2,000EMW-4069 - 278
43Japanese seabass (Lateolabrax japonicus)134,890500-500EMW-102270
44Silver barb (Barbonymus gonionotus)131,461100-200EMW-181657 - 1,315
45Giant gourami (Osphronemus goramy)116,6162,000-3,000EMW-8039 - 58
46Snubnose pompano (Trachinotus blochii)111,063322-1,081103 - 345
47Africa-bighead catfish, hybrid (Clarias gariepinus x C. macrocephalus)107,730322-1,081100 - 334
48Sturgeons nei (Acipenseridae)104,313322-1,08196 - 324
49Freshwater siluroids nei (Siluroidei)94,355322-1,08187 - 293
50Lefteye flounders nei (Bothidae)76,837322-1,08171 - 239
51Barramundi(=Giant seaperch) (Lates calcarifer)76,498300-2,000EMW-2538 - 255
52Red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)74,3841,000-1,000EMW-15674
53Porgies, seabreams nei (Sparidae)71,543322-1,08166 - 222
54Silver seabream (Pagrus auratus)69,669400-400EMW-184174
55Turbot (Psetta maxima)65,176700-2,000EMW-21933 - 93
56Climbing perch (Anabas testudineus)58,051322-1,08154 - 180
57Bastard halibut (Paralichthys olivaceus)48,259800-1,500EMW-2632 - 60
58Cobia (Rachycentron canadum)42,4946,000-8,000EMW-555 - 7
59Snakeskin gourami (Trichogaster pectoralis)40,73480-120EMW-189339 - 509
60Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)37,805500-800EMW-12347 - 76
61Tambacu, hybrid (P.mesopotamicus x C.macropomum)30,443322-1,08128 - 95
62Indonesian snakehead (Channa micropeltes)29,892500-700EMW-9543 - 60
63Nilem carp (Osteochilus hasselti)29,570322-1,08127 - 92
64Tiger pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes)27,187322-1,08125 - 84
65Orangefin labeo (Labeo calbasu)23,019322-1,08121 - 71
66Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis)22,554322-1,08121 - 70
67Amberjacks nei (Seriola spp)21,336322-1,08120 - 66
68Clearhead icefish (Protosalanx hyalocranius)21,261322-1,08120 - 66
69Trouts nei (Salmo spp)21,009322-1,08119 - 65
70Salmonids nei (Salmonidae)20,090322-1,08119 - 62
71Striped snakehead (Channa striata)19,973300-1,100EMW-20718 - 67
72Korean rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli)18,774322-1,08117 - 58
73Nile perch (Lates niloticus)15,900322-1,08115 - 49
74Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus)15,875322-1,08115 - 49
75Flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus)15,005500-1,500EMW-7610 - 30
76Meagre (Argyrosomus regius)14,790322-1,08114 - 46
77Salmonoids nei (Salmonoidei)14,662322-1,08114 - 46
78Pangas catfish (Pangasius pangasius)13,902322-1,08113 - 43
79Pond smelt (Hypomesus olidus)13,103322-1,08112 - 41
80Chinook(=Spring=King) salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)12,474322-1,08112 - 39
81Tambatinga, hybrid (C. macropomum x P. brachypomus)12,009322-1,08111 - 37
82Righteye flounders nei (Pleuronectidae)10,459322-1,08110 - 32
83Mangrove red snapper (Lutjanus argentimaculatus)10,427322-1,08110 - 32
84Brycon amazonicus (Brycon amazonicus)10,269322-1,0819 - 32
85Arapaima (Arapaima gigas)8,522322-1,0818 - 26
86Reticulate knifefish (Papyrocranus afer)8,488322-1,0818 - 26
87Southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii)8,418322-1,0818 - 26
88Kissing gourami (Helostoma temminckii)8,138322-1,0818 - 25
89Hoven's carp (Leptobarbus hoeveni)7,887322-1,0817 - 24
90John's snapper (Lutjanus johnii)7,574322-1,0817 - 24
91Snakeheads(=Murrels) nei (Channa spp)7,203322-1,0817 - 22
92Aba (Gymnarchus niloticus)7,031322-1,0817 - 22
93Philippine catfish (Clarias batrachus)6,615322-1,0816 - 21
94Upsidedown catfishes (Synodontis spp)6,556322-1,0816 - 20
95Small scale mud carp (Cirrhinus microlepis)6,450322-1,0816 - 20
96European eel (Anguilla anguilla)6,308322-1,0816 - 20
97Ayu sweetfish (Plecoglossus altivelis)6,113322-1,0816 - 19
98Stinging catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis)6,085322-1,0816 - 19
99Characins nei (Characidae)5,891322-1,0815 - 18
100Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus)5,854322-1,0815 - 18
101African bonytongue (Heterotis niloticus)5,835322-1,0815 - 18
102Asian redtail catfish (Mystus nemurus)5,762322-1,0815 - 18
103Isok barb (Probarbus jullieni)5,500322-1,0815 - 17
104Olive barb (Systomus sarana)5,349322-1,0815 - 17
105Brycon spp (Brycon spp)5,348322-1,0815 - 17
106Obscure pufferfish (Takifugu obscurus)5,220322-1,0815 - 16
107Fourfinger threadfin (Eleutheronema tetradactylum)4,668322-1,0814 - 14
108Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus)4,629322-1,0814 - 14
109Asian barbs nei (Puntius spp)4,368322-1,0814 - 14
110Grass-eaters nei (Distichodus spp)4,276322-1,0814 - 13
111Mud carp (Cirrhinus molitorella)4,223322-1,0814 - 13
112Striped bass, hybrid (Morone chrysops x M. saxatilis)4,169816-816EMW-2055
113Whitefishes nei (Coregonus spp)4,134322-1,0814 - 13
114Parachanna snakeheads nei (Parachanna spp)3,926322-1,0814 - 12
115Citharinus nei (Citharinus spp)3,832322-1,0814 - 12
116Redbreast tilapia (Tilapia rendalli)3,760322-1,0813 - 12
117Sea trout (Salmo trutta)3,594322-1,0813 - 11
118Leporinus spp (Leporinus spp)3,567322-1,0813 - 11
119Osteobrama belangeri (Osteobrama belangeri)3,500322-1,0813 - 11
120White trevally (Pseudocaranx dentex)3,300322-1,0813 - 10
121Three spotted tilapia (Oreochromis andersonii)3,272322-1,0813 - 10
122Blue tilapia (Oreochromis aureus)3,250500-800EMW-344 - 7
123Chars nei (Salvelinus spp)3,149322-1,0813 - 10
124Netted prochilod (Prochilodus reticulatus)2,750322-1,0813 - 9
125Kafue pike (Hepsetus odoe)2,661322-1,0812 - 8
126Prochilods nei (Prochilodus spp)2,563322-1,0812 - 8
127Crucian carp (Carassius carassius)2,437150-400EMW-626 - 16
128Jacks, crevalles nei (Caranx spp)2,353322-1,0812 - 7
129Roach (Rutilus rutilus)2,125322-1,0812 - 7
130Catfishes nei (Ictalurus spp)1,883322-1,0812 - 6
131Tilapia shiranus (Oreochromis shiranus)1,880322-1,0812 - 6
132Wels(=Som) catfish (Silurus glanis)1,814322-1,0812 - 6
133Marble goby (Oxyeleotris marmorata)1,616322-1,0811 - 5
134Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)1,574322-1,0811 - 5
135Blackhead seabream (Acanthopagrus schlegeli)1,522322-1,0811 - 5
136Tench (Tinca tinca)1,434322-1,0811 - 4
137Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus)1,3083,000-5,000EMW-20< 1
138Pike-perch (Sander lucioperca)1,265322-1,0811 - 4
139Goldfish (Carassius auratus)1,255322-1,0811 - 4
140Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis)1,132322-1,0811 - 4
141Hoplias spp (Hoplias spp)1,129322-1,0811 - 4
142Black prochilodus (Prochilodus nigricans)969322-1,0811 - 3
143Finfishes nei (Osteichthyes)906322-1,0811 - 3
144So-iuy mullet (Mugil soiuy)900500-1,500EMW-1931 - 2
145Red porgy (Pagrus pagrus)896322-1,0811 - 3
146River eels nei (Anguilla spp)893322-1,0811 - 3
147Northern pike (Esox lucius)841322-1,0811 - 3
148European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus)823322-1,0811 - 3
149Japanese jack mackerel (Trachurus japonicus)801322-1,0811 - 2
150Longfin tilapia (Oreochromis macrochir)764322-1,0811 - 2
151Wallago (Wallago attu)756322-1,0811 - 2
152Freshwater bream (Abramis brama)735322-1,0811 - 2
153Spotted rose snapper (Lutjanus guttatus)700322-1,0811 - 2
154Shi drum (Umbrina cirrosa)631322-1,0811 - 2
155Spotted snakehead (Channa punctata)580322-1,0811 - 2
156Snappers nei (Lutjanus spp)540322-1,081< 1 - 2
157Bronze featherback (Notopterus notopterus)507322-1,081< 1 - 2
158Pacific fat sleeper (Dormitator latifrons)500322-1,081< 1 - 2
159Striped bass (Morone saxatilis)475322-1,081< 1 - 1
160Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii)433322-1,081< 1 - 1
161Orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides)426322-1,081< 1 - 1
162Channa marulius (Channa marulius)408322-1,081< 1 - 1
163Longfin yellowtail (Seriola rivoliana)400322-1,081< 1 - 1
164Filefishes, leatherjackets nei (Monacanthidae)392322-1,081< 1 - 1
165Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus)350322-1,081< 1 - 1
166European perch (Perca fluviatilis)350322-1,081< 1 - 1
167Groupers, seabasses nei (Serranidae)337322-1,081< 1 - 1
168Danube sturgeon(=Osetr) (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii)336322-1,081< 1 - 1
169Silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus)314322-1,081< 1 - 1
170Sabaki tilapia (Oreochromis spilurus)286322-1,081< 1 - 1
171Oreochromis tanganicae (Oreochromis tanganicae)280322-1,081< 1 - 1
172Sharpsnout seabream (Diplodus puntazzo)276322-1,081< 1 - 1
173Spinefeet(=Rabbitfishes) nei (Siganus spp)263322-1,081< 1 - 1
174Banded astyanax (Astyanax fasciatus)245322-1,081< 1 - 1
175Blackchin tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron)239322-1,081< 1 - 1
176Dotted gizzard shad (Konosirus punctatus)207322-1,081< 1 - 1
177Kelee shad (Hilsa kelee)180322-1,081< 1 - 1
178Blackspot(=red) seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo)171322-1,081< 1 - 1
179Scorpionfishes nei (Scorpaenidae)165322-1,081< 1 - 1
180Malabar grouper (Epinephelus malabaricus)150322-1,081< 1
181Common sole (Solea solea)149322-1,081< 1
182Snappers, jobfishes nei (Lutjanidae)148322-1,081< 1
183Common dentex (Dentex dentex)136322-1,081< 1
184Black bullhead (Ameiurus melas)135322-1,081< 1
185Barbel (Barbus barbus)126322-1,081< 1
186Algerian barb (Barbus callensis)120322-1,081< 1
187Mackerels nei (Scombridae)113322-1,081< 1
188Clown knifefish (Chitala chitala)111322-1,081< 1
189Hypsibarbus spp (Hypsibarbus spp)103322-1,081< 1
190American yellow perch (Perca flavescens)100227-227EMW-7< 1
191Roaches nei (Rutilus spp)91322-1,081< 1
192Pink dentex (Dentex gibbosus)90322-1,081< 1
193Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)792,000-5,000EMW-19< 1
194Rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus)72322-1,081< 1
195Bagrid catfish (Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus)70322-1,081< 1
196Cichla spp (Cichla spp)68322-1,081< 1
197Labeo dussumieri (Labeo dussumieri)63322-1,081< 1
198Sorubims nei (Pseudoplatystoma spp)62322-1,081< 1
199Pufferfishes nei (Takifugu spp)51322-1,081< 1
200Brown-marbled grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus)45322-1,081< 1
201Dorado (Salminus brasiliensis)41322-1,081< 1
202Barcoo grunter (Scortum barcoo)38322-1,081< 1
203Prochilodus mariae (Prochilodus mariae)36322-1,081< 1
204Beluga (Huso huso)34322-1,081< 1
205Brycon cephalus (Brycon cephalus)33322-1,081< 1
206Thai mahseer (Tor tambroides)25322-1,081< 1
207Orbicular batfish (Platax orbicularis)23322-1,081< 1
208Giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis)22322-1,081< 1
209Soles nei (Soleidae)20322-1,081< 1
210Lebranche mullet (Mugil liza)20322-1,081< 1
211Spotted coralgrouper (Plectropomus maculatus)17322-1,081< 1
212Atipa (Hoplosternum littorale)16322-1,081< 1
213Common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus)15322-1,081< 1
214Huchen (Hucho hucho)15322-1,081< 1
215White seabream (Diplodus sargus)13322-1,081< 1
216Bleak (Alburnus alburnus)13322-1,081< 1
217Sterlet sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus)12322-1,081< 1
218Tinfoil barb (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii)11322-1,081< 1
219Streaked prochilod (Prochilodus lineatus)10322-1,081< 1
220Golden trevally (Gnathanodon speciosus)7322-1,081< 1
221Banded jewelfish (Hemichromis fasciatus)5322-1,081< 1
222Barred sorubim (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum)5322-1,081< 1
223Gouramis nei (Trichogaster spp)5322-1,081< 1
224Mango tilapia (Sarotherodon galilaeus)5322-1,081< 1
225Pargo breams nei (Pagrus spp)5322-1,081< 1
226Russell's snapper (Lutjanus russelli)5322-1,081< 1
227Sampa (Heterobranchus longifilis)5322-1,081< 1
228Amazon sailfin catfish (Pterygoplichthys pardalis)5322-1,081< 1
229Flatfishes nei (Pleuronectiformes)4322-1,081< 1
230Giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus)4322-1,081< 1
231Whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri)4322-1,081< 1
232Chub (Leuciscus cephalus)3322-1,081< 1
233African catfish (Heterobranchus bidorsalis)3322-1,081< 1
234Knifefishes (Notopterus spp)3322-1,081< 1
235Sobaity seabream (Sparidentex hasta)3322-1,081< 1
236Starry sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus)3322-1,081< 1
237Grayling (Thymallus thymallus)3322-1,081< 1
238Gobies nei (Gobiidae)2322-1,081< 1
239Goldlined seabream (Rhabdosargus sarba)2322-1,081< 1
240Green terror (Aequidens rivulatus)2322-1,081< 1
241Redbelly tilapia (Tilapia zillii)2322-1,081< 1
242Seabasses nei (Dicentrarchus spp)2322-1,081< 1
243Leporinus obtusidens (Leporinus obtusidens)2322-1,081< 1
244Brycon orbignyanus (Brycon orbignyanus)2322-1,081< 1
245Big-scale sand smelt (Atherina boyeri)1322-1,081< 1
246Mississippi paddlefish (Polyodon spathula)1322-1,081< 1
247Areolate grouper (Epinephelus areolatus)1322-1,081< 1
248Emperor red snapper (Lutjanus sebae)1322-1,081< 1
249White-spotted spinefoot (Siganus canaliculatus)1322-1,081< 1
250Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)1322-1,081< 1
251Buffalofishes nei (Ictiobus spp)1322-1,081< 1
252Green humphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum)1322-1,081< 1
253Burbot (Lota lota)1322-1,081< 1
254Sargo breams nei (Diplodus spp)<1322-1,081< 1
255Spotted seabass (Dicentrarchus punctatus)<1322-1,081< 1
256Jaguar guapote (Cichlasoma managuense)<1322-1,081< 1
257Orfe(=Ide) (Leuciscus idus)<1322-1,081< 1
258Humpback grouper (Cromileptes altivelis)<1322-1,081< 1
259Peled (Coregonus peled)<1322-1,081< 1
260Danube bleak (Chalcalburnus chalcoides)<1322-1,081< 1
261Sixfinger threadfin (Polydactylus sexfilis)<1322-1,081< 1
262Bigeye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus)<1322-1,081< 1
263Common nase (Chondrostoma nasus)<1322-1,081< 1
264Totals for all species 51,907,47147,997 - 160,506
 
Totals by estimate type:
   Single species with an EMW 40,310,526322-1,08137,283 - 125,163
   Multi species with an EMW 2,852,8072,627 - 8,193
Totals for species with an EMW 43,163,33339,910 - 133,356
Totals species without an EMW 8,744,138322-1,0818,087 - 27,150
 
Total fish production 51,907,47147,997 - 160,506
Total aqaculture production (includes shellfish) 106,004,184

Source of production tonnage : FAO FishStat "Aquaculture Production (Quantities and values) 1950-2015 (Release date: 7th March 2017)".
Note. All species are identified on FishStat as being of the class Actinopterygii except for the following for which class is not specified: freshwater fishes nei, marine fishes nei and finfishes nei.