If ever you’re wondering where fish on your sushi comes from, join us in discovering the 10 countries that export the most fish in the world! Chances are that salmon you are eating may have come from the Northern Atlantic!
“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime”. Sound familiar? It appeared on a novel in 1885, which means that it is better to teach something to someone that to do it for them, and “teaching a man to fish” will certainly feed him every day. Subsistence fishing is a type of fishing in small-scale and low-output, usually practiced by individuals for everyday consumption and not for commercial gain. This evolved into commercial fishing, which uses boats of different sizes, and is usually large-scale. However, the ever-growing demand for fish has pushed fishermen to resort to unethical fishing practices such as blast fishing and trawling. These destroy reefs, which are breeding grounds for various marine animals including fishes. Conservation groups, scientists, and agencies all around the world have sounded the alarm on overfishing and its ugly outcomes, which have, in turn, improved rules and regulations for commercial fishing.
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Fortunately, there is such a thing as aquaculture. Also known as aquafarming, it is the practice of breeding plants, fishes, and other marine life. Much like cattle-raising or poultry-farming, aqua farming involves taking wild animals and breeding them, which in this case is farming freshwater fish. Like the 10 countries that export the most fruit in the world, many nations have wide aquaculture sites, or fish farms, dedicated to farming a single species of fish. Without any access to the sea, landlocked countries have benefitted much from aqua farming. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, the growth in world fish production still outpaces global population growth. In 2012 alone, 90 million tons of aquaculture was produced, which is an all-time high. It was also estimated that fish consumption per capita, or the amount of fish consumed by a person per year, will be 19kg of fish. Presently, aquafarming continues to outpace population growth and now accounts for more than half of the world’s fish production.
To identify the 10 countries that export the most fish, the first step was to identify the types of exported fishes. These fell into 3 main categories – fresh fish, live fish and frozen fish. Unfortunately, this data was only available on TradeMap. Other marine products such as whales, sharks and crustaceans were not included. In addition, the quantity of exported fish was the basis for this list, not the value of exported fish as reported by other websites. The total number of exported live, fresh and frozen fish determined the places on our list. Additional information on fishing was obtained from World’s Top Exports, World Atlas and Food and Agriculture Organization. Indicated values are actual values for 2015.
10. Denmark
Total exports (in tons): 371,517
Despite being one of the 10 countries that export the most fish, the income generated by Denmark’s fishing industry only contributes roughly 0.5% of the country’s economy. One thing of note about the Danish fishing industry is the “democratic” set-up of fishing vessels – everyone on board the ship shares the value of the catch. From the captain to the cabin boy, if they haul in $10 million, then they each get an equal share.
9. Japan
Total exports (in tons): 388,357
Although not a part of the statistics give a number of whales are caught in Japan every year, dating back to the 12th century. Deeply embedded in their culture, whaling in Japan has been regulated, usually with self-imposed quotas. Nippon Suisan Kaisha and Maruha Nichiro employ more than 10,000 employees all over the world, and are the 2 largest fishing companies in Japan. Except for the whales, fresh sushi will give you a “whale” of time in Japan!
8. Spain
Total exports (in tons): 552,092
Another nation enjoying the bounty of the North Atlantic is Spain. It formerly had the 4th largest fishing fleet in the world, and also had more than 100,000 employed in fishing and related industries during the 1980s. Major exports are sardines, tuna, cod, and mackerel.
7. Taiwan (Chinese Taipei)
Total exports (in tons): 603,557
Known internationally as Chinese Taipei, Taiwan is a teardrop-shaped nation east of mainland China. Also surrounded by seas, with the Pacific to the east gives this island-nation access to some of the richest fishing grounds in the world. The bulk of its exports is frozen fish, with around 500,000 tons.
6. Maldives
Total exports (in tons): 614,243
If you’re surrounded by water, fishing will naturally be a big part of your economy. This is the case of Maldives, a group of tiny islands in the Indian Ocean known for its captivating beaches that are currently being swallowed by the ocean. With 26 atolls consisting of thousands of islets, the nation has very abundant marine resources, which are also critically endangered by overfishing and global warming (which is not a myth).
5. The Netherlands
Total exports (in tons): 623,034
Benefitting from the rich fishing ground of the North Sea and North Atlantic have made the Dutch one of the 10 countries that export the most fish in the world. Though a tiny nation, a strong fishing industry has helped generate billions of dollars for the nation. Frozen fish, mostly mackerel and herring, are its exports, with more than 50% going to its European neighbors.
4. The United States
Total exports (in tons): 740,990
The United State’s fishing grounds is the largest in the world. Covering an astounding 11.4 million square kilometers, it is even larger than the United States. This is because of the special exclusive economic zone, which extends 300 kilometers from a sovereign nation’s borders. Notable fishing grounds which the US have rights are in the Gulf o Mexico, the Caribbean Sea and the Northeast and Southeast Continental Shelf, just to name a few.
3. China
Total exports (in tons): 1,099,391
A big population needs lots of resources. Unfortunately, China has been engaged in territorial disputes with its Asian neighbors over the South China Sea. Nevertheless, the Asian powerhouse has more than 14 million fishermen, and their catch every year ends up mostly in the United States, Japan, and Hong Kong. Frozen fish makes up the bulk of its fish exports.
2. Russia
Total exports (in tons): 1,197,886
Having the 4th longest shoreline in the world helps you be the 2nd largest exporter of fish in the world. Russia comes in at number 2 on our list due to the sheer size of its coastal and territorial waters, which does not include its exclusive economic zone outside its borders. Adding to this is a number of inland lakes such as the Caspian Sea, which is the largest lake in the world, and Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world.
1. Norway
Total exports (in tons): 1,959,181
This beautiful Scandinavian country not only boasts of dramatic landscapes, but also of bountiful marine resources. With rich fishing grounds in the North Atlantic, Norway claims the top spot in the list of the 10 countries that export the most fish in the world. Salmon and trout have been the 2 biggest fish imports of Norway, and 65% of its exports go to the EU market. Amazingly, fresh fish make up the bulk of their exports.
