Chapter 1
Recent International Efforts to Improve Bivalve
Molluscan Shellfish Safety
Iddya Karunasagar
Global Production and International Trade
in Bivalve Molluscs
Fish and fishery products continue to be one of the most important food
commodities contributing to food security, livelihoods and to the economies of
many countries in the world. According to FAO statistics, in 2008, nearly 81 %
(115 million tonnes) of world fish production was destined for human consumption
and the rest (27 million tonnes) were used for non-food purposes that included
ornamental purpose (6.4 million tonnes), reduction to fish meal and oil (20.8
million tonnes), direct feeding for aquaculture, bait or pharmaceutical uses (FAO
2010). During 1976–2008, fishery trade grew at an average annual rate of increase
of 8.3 % in value terms. In 2008, exports of fish and fishery products reached a
record of US$102.0 billion, 9 % higher than 2007 (FAO 2010). Bivalve molluscs
represented almost 10 % of the total world fishery production, but 26 % in volume
and 14 % in value of the total world aquaculture production.
World bivalve mollusc production (capture C aquaculture) has increased substantially in the last 50 years, going from nearly 1 million tonnes in 1950 to about 14.6
million tonnes in 2010. Global production in tonnes during the last decade (2000–
2010) is illustrated in Fig. 1.1. While production by capture has marginally declined
from about 1.9 million tonnes to about 1.7 million tonnes in 2010, production by
aquaculture increased from 8.3 million tonnes in 2000 to 12.9 million tonnes in
2010.
China is by far the leading producer of bivalve molluscs, with 10.35 million
tonnes in 2010, representing 70.8 % of the global molluscan shellfish production
I. Karunasagar ()
Products, Trade and Marketing Service, Food and Agriculture Organization,
Room F521, Viale delle Terme Di Caracalla, Rome, Italy
e-mail: Iddya.Karunasagar@fao.org
G. Sauv´ e (ed.), Molluscan Shellfish Safety, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-6588-7 1,
© Springer ScienceCBusiness Media Dordrecht 2014
1
Recent International Efforts to Improve Bivalve
Molluscan Shellfish Safety
Iddya Karunasagar
Global Production and International Trade
in Bivalve Molluscs
Fish and fishery products continue to be one of the most important food
commodities contributing to food security, livelihoods and to the economies of
many countries in the world. According to FAO statistics, in 2008, nearly 81 %
(115 million tonnes) of world fish production was destined for human consumption
and the rest (27 million tonnes) were used for non-food purposes that included
ornamental purpose (6.4 million tonnes), reduction to fish meal and oil (20.8
million tonnes), direct feeding for aquaculture, bait or pharmaceutical uses (FAO
2010). During 1976–2008, fishery trade grew at an average annual rate of increase
of 8.3 % in value terms. In 2008, exports of fish and fishery products reached a
record of US$102.0 billion, 9 % higher than 2007 (FAO 2010). Bivalve molluscs
represented almost 10 % of the total world fishery production, but 26 % in volume
and 14 % in value of the total world aquaculture production.
World bivalve mollusc production (capture C aquaculture) has increased substantially in the last 50 years, going from nearly 1 million tonnes in 1950 to about 14.6
million tonnes in 2010. Global production in tonnes during the last decade (2000–
2010) is illustrated in Fig. 1.1. While production by capture has marginally declined
from about 1.9 million tonnes to about 1.7 million tonnes in 2010, production by
aquaculture increased from 8.3 million tonnes in 2000 to 12.9 million tonnes in
2010.
China is by far the leading producer of bivalve molluscs, with 10.35 million
tonnes in 2010, representing 70.8 % of the global molluscan shellfish production
I. Karunasagar ()
Products, Trade and Marketing Service, Food and Agriculture Organization,
Room F521, Viale delle Terme Di Caracalla, Rome, Italy
e-mail: Iddya.Karunasagar@fao.org
G. Sauv´ e (ed.), Molluscan Shellfish Safety, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-6588-7 1,
© Springer ScienceCBusiness Media Dordrecht 2014
1