World Bank hails aquaculture’s “$1.5 trillion dollar investment opportunity”

The report, released last month, argues that governments, development finance institutions and private investors will play a critical role in scaling sustainable aquaculture and reducing investor risks.

Called Harnessing the Waters, the report offers insights to public and private sector investors, positioning aquaculture among the most promising opportunities for building a more sustainable food system over the next 25 years. 

It identifies a $1.5 trillion investment opportunity that could generate as many as 22 million new jobs by 2050 – expanding employment for youth and creating greater economic opportunities for women – and curbing rural-urban migration.

Drawing insights from seven mature aquaculture industries across the globe – Bangladesh, Chile, China, Ecuador, Egypt, Thailand and Vietnam – the report examines how financial mechanisms, and the evolving roles of the public and private sectors, inform future investments in sustainable aquaculture.

The report analyses investment trends and financial mechanisms shaping the industry’s future, concluding that aquaculture’s growth potential requires a significant transition from small-scale to more intensive production. To reach its full potential, the sector now requires innovative financing at scale, particularly in emerging markets helping small scale farmers improve productivity through adoption of improved farming practices.

The main findings

• Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production sector, now supplying most of the world’s seafood. Demand continues to rise as wild fisheries reach maximum yield.
• Aquaculture is shifting from a niche to a mainstream investment strategy, offering diversification and strong long-term returns.
• A “business-as-usual” growth forecast projects an additional 60 million metric tons of annual aquaculture production over the next 25 years. On the other hand, an upside growth scenario involving targeted investments projects an additional 97 million metric tons of annual production over the same period.
• Top aquaculture industries offer strong returns by focusing on different markets: shrimp in Ecuador, salmon in Chile, pangasius in Vietnam are leading global exports, while carp in China and black tiger shrimp in Bangladesh are primarily supplying their own domestic markets.
• Public-private partnerships and development finance are key: Governments, development finance institutions, and private investors including philanthropies and concessional investors will continue playing a critical role in scaling sustainable aquaculture and reducing investor risks.
• Green finance is reshaping investments: Sustainability-linked loans and blue bonds are unlocking capital for responsible aquaculture growth.

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