Sustainable Aquaculture: The Trillion-Dollar Challenge – In the new report jointly published by the World Bank and WWF, sustainable aquaculture emerges as one of the most concrete levers for building a resilient, inclusive, and low-emission food system over the next twenty-five years. The study, “Harnessing Water: A Trillion-Dollar Investment Opportunity in Sustainable Aquaculture,” lays out a vision that is both clear and ambitious: the future of fish increasingly lies in farming, and it will largely depend on how—and how much—we invest with foresight.
According to the document, the “business as usual” scenario foresees investments of about USD 500 billion by 2050. This amount would stimulate an annual aquaculture growth rate of 1.9%, bringing global production to around 159 million tonnes of seafood (excluding algae) and generating up to 14 million new jobs. But it’s the more ambitious scenario—USD 1.5 trillion in investments—that truly captures attention: production could reach 225 million tonnes and provide employment opportunities for over 22 million people. These are figures that turn aquaculture into a true development infrastructure.
“The key is not just to grow, but to grow well,”
says Genevieve Connors, Acting Global Director of the Environment Department at the World Bank. “To fully harness the potential of aquaculture, we need to shift to practices that are not only productive but also environmentally responsible, socially inclusive, and economically sustainable.”
The global context supports this vision. The seafood sector is facing growing demand for animal protein amid the steady depletion of wild resources. Aquaculture, which already accounts for nearly 60% of global seafood production, is emerging as the segment capable of bridging the gap between consumption and availability, while also offering significant environmental benefits: among all animal protein sources, it has the lowest carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions.
But turning potential into results requires deep transformation. The report highlights the need to shift from small-scale models to more efficient and controlled industrial systems, capable of attracting institutional capital, accelerating technological adoption, and fostering collaboration between public and private stakeholders. In particular, access to innovative financial tools is identified as a prerequisite for any sustainable growth scenario in emerging countries.
The analysis conducted across seven key countries (Bangladesh, Chile, China, Ecuador, Egypt, Thailand, and Vietnam) shows that public-private partnership models, access to concessional credit, and transparent governance are already the defining factors of the most dynamic economies in the sector. For each country, the report identifies replicable strategies and outlines operational roadmaps for expansion aligned with climate and food security goals.
The report is not just an analytical exercise, but a genuine call to action for the blue economy. Aimed at institutional investors, governments, sovereign wealth funds, multilateral banks, and industry operators, it proposes financial models adaptable to various national contexts, while identifying risks, regulatory barriers, and technological opportunities. A systemic approach that positions sustainable aquaculture as a central pillar of the global food strategy through 2050.
Aquaculture is no longer just one option among many—it is one of the few structural solutions to address future food challenges. The World Bank and WWF report outlines a clear course of action: investing today in sustainable, large-scale, and well-regulated models means ensuring a stable, inclusive, and environmentally low-impact supply for tomorrow. The entire supply chain, at every level, now has the opportunity—and the responsibility—to steer strategic choices in this direction.
Sustainable Aquaculture: The Trillion-Dollar Challenge
