10 World’s Most Important Finfish Species of Aquaculture

10 World’s Most Important Finfish Species of Aquaculture

10 World’s Most Important Finfish Species of Aquaculture–There are 10 World’s Most Important Finfish Species of Aquaculture based on data released by FAO in 2018. These finfish species certainly have various nutritional and flavor advantages so that they become favorites for the consumers. So far, many people are familiar with various products of freshwater and marine aquaculture species such as fish, shrimp, squid, shellfish, and even seaweed. However, every country has diverse and unique seafood culinary tastes that affect the demand for seafood.

10 World’s Most Important Finfish Species of Aquaculture- Most Important Species

Aquaculture is main sector that maximize the production of fishery. With the help of human intelligence, aquaculture can produce fishery products in meeting human needs. In 2018, there are 10 biggest species of finfish that has biggest production in the world. These species of Finfish are favorable to human consumption. Here are 10 World’s Most Important Finfish Species of Aquaculture

Table Rank of 10 World’s Most Important Finfish Species of Aquaculture

RankCommon NameScientific NameFinfish Production in 2018
( Million Tons)
1Grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idellus5.7
2Silver carpHypophthalmichthys molitrix4.7
3Nile TilapiaOreochromis niloticus4.5
4Common carp Cyprinus carpio4.1
5Bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis3.1
6Catla Catla catla3
7Carassius spp.Carassius spp.2.7
8Freshwater fishes nei Osteichthyes2.5
9Atlantic salmon Salmo salar2.4
10Striped catfishPangasianodon hypophthalmus2.3
Source : FAO Statistical Database, 2018

Brief Description of 10 World’s Most Important Finfish Species of Aquaculture


10 World’s Most Important Finfish Species of Aquaculture - Brief Description

1. Grasc Crap (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)

Grasc Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) became the World’s Most Important Finfish Species of Aquaculture. This type of fish comes from the East Asia Region which is included in the family Cyprinidae such as the type of carp. This type of fish is widely developed in China. In addition to consumption, in various parts of the world, this type of fish is very useful in controlling weeds/weeds such as Eichhornia crassipes which usually tends to damage water areas on land such as rivers or dams.

Statistically, based on the FAO report, the production of this type of fish reached 5.7 million tons in 2018. The biggest producers of this type of fish are China, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Russia. In China, this type of fish is marketed in fresh form. Economically, this type of fish is cheap so that it becomes the mainstay of household consumption for the lower middle class. When compared in terms of total production, this species is the largest fishery species in the world consumed by humans.


2. Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)

Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) become 2nd World’s Most Important Finfish Species of Aquaculture. This type of freshwater fish (freshwater) comes from East Asia and the Siberian Region (Russia) which is still in the same family as the koan/grasp carp. In cultivation, this type of fish includes large amounts of plankton eaters. In Asian markets, this type of fish is usually sold fresh.

Based on FAO Report, the production of this species in 2018 reached 4.7 tons. China, India, Bangladesh, and several countries in Asia are still the main producing countries for this type of fish. From the data above, this type of fish is the second largest fishery product in the world.


3. Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

The Nile Tilapia is a species of freshwater fish native to the African continent. This type of fish is an omnivore, from plankton to plants. This fish was widely introduced to several continents such as Asia and America in 1960-1980.

In 2018, the production of this fish reached 4.5 million tons. Several Asian countries such as China, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam are some of the largest producers of this type of fish.


4. Common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

This type of fish comes from the European Region, precisely in the Danube River (Europe). This type of fish has been introduced to many countries in the world. The nature of this fish including omnivores and is able to survive in water conditions that lack oxygen. In 2018, the production of this type of fish reached 4.1 million tons.


5. Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis)

The bighead carp is a species of freshwater fish thought to have originated in the Yangtze and Pearl rivers in China. The specialty of this type of fish is that it can live in a temperature range of 0.5-38°C and has a fast growth period.

In 2018, the production of this type of fish reached 3.1 million tons. Several Asian countries such as China, Myanmar, Taiwan, Malaysia, Nepal are some countries that have large production.


6. Catla (Catla catla)

This type of fish belongs to the family Cyprinidae and is considered to have come from the South Asian Region such as India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. In 2018, the production of this fish reached 3 million tons. South Asian countries such as India, Bangladesh, Nepal are the major producers of this fishery commodity.


7. Carassius spp.               

Carassius is a genus in the family Cyprinidae. One of the most popular fish species in the world. In 2018, its production reached 2.7 million. Famous species of this genus are goldfish (C. auratus), common carp (C. carpio), Carassius langsdorfi, and several other species.


8. Freshwater fishes nei (Osteichthyes)        

Osteichthyes so popularly referred to as bony fish, are a taxonomic diverse group of fish that have a skeleton composed primarily of bone tissue. In 2018, its worldwide production reached 2.5 million tons.


9. Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Salmon is a species of marine fish that belongs to the Salmonidae family. This species is commonly found in the North Atlantic Ocean. This fish is anadromous which has a habit of always migrating to freshwater when it enters adulthood and lays eggs. In 2018, the production of this fish reached 2.4 million tons. Economically, the largest markets are Japan, European Union countries and the North American Region.


10. Striped catfish  (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus)

Striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) was one the aquaculture popular fish. Its distribution is in Asia around Mekong, Chao Phraya, and Maeklong basins. In 2018, total production reached 2,3 million tons.


Bibliography of 10 World’s Most Important Finfish Species of Aquaculture

FAO.2020. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020.  Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Rome, 2020.

Fishbase. Ctenopharyngodon idella. Accessed via https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Ctenopharyngodon-idella.html  on 18 September 2021.

Fishbase. Hypophthalmichthys molitrix. Accssed via https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Hypophthalmichthys-molitrix.html    on 18 September 2021.

Fishbase. Oreochromis niloticus. Accssed via https://www.fishbase.se/summary/oreochromis-niloticus.html  on 18 September 2021.

Fishbase.Cyprinus carpio. Accessed via https://www.fishbase.se/summary/cyprinus-carpio.html  on 18 September 2021.

Fishbase.Hypophthalmichthys nobilis. Accessed via https://www.fishbase.in/summary/Hypophthalmichthys-nobilis.html  on 18 September 2021.

Wikipedia.Catla. Accessed via  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catla  on 18 September 2021.

Wikipedia.Carassius. Accessed via  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carassius  on 18 September 2021.

Wikipedia.2021. Osteichthyes. Accessed via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteichthyes  on 18 September 2021.

Wikipedia.2021. Atlantic salmon. Accessed via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_salmon  on 18 September 2021.

Fishbase.2021. Pangasianodon hypophthalmus. Accessed via https://www.fishbase.de/summary/pangasianodon-hypophthalmus.html  on 18 September 2021

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