Table 3.
Estimated global number ranges for the top 38 fish species killed for food (2019) by estimate mid-point
| Rank | FAO species category (scientific name) MS = multi-species category | Stun parameters? | Production in ‘000 t | % Total fish t | Estimated global mean weight range (g) | Estimated number range (millions) to 2 sig fig | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower | Upper | Lower | Upper | Midp’nt | |||||
| 1 | Pond loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) | 358 | 1 | 10 | 26 | 14,000 | 36,000 | 25,000 | |
| 2 | Carassius spp (Carassius spp) MS | 2,756 | 5 | 150 | 500 | 5,500 | 18,000 | 12,000 | |
| 3 | Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) | Y | 4,590 | 8 | 338 | 530 | 8,700 | 14,000 | 11,000 |
| 4 | Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) | Y | 4,412 | 8 | 483 | 951 | 4,600 | 9,100 | 6,900 |
| 5 | Torpedo-shaped catfishes nei (Clarias spp) MS | N/Y | 1,260 | 2 | 125 | 854 | 1,500 | 10,000 | 5,800 |
| 6 | Freshwater fishes nei (Osteichthyes) MS | 2,515 | 4 | 361 | 724 | 3,500 | 7,000 | 5,200 | |
| 7 | Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) | 4,828 | 9 | 700 | 1,500 | 3,200 | 6,900 | 5,100 | |
| 8 | Milkfish (Chanos chanos) | 1,537 | 3 | 250 | 425 | 3,600 | 6,100 | 4,900 | |
| 9 | Yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) | 537 | 1 | 75 | 250 | 2,100 | 7,200 | 4,700 | |
| 10 | Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) | 5,728 | 10 | 1,000 | 4,535 | 1,300 | 5,700 | 3,500 | |
| 11 | Silver barb (Barbonymus gonionotus) | 420 | 1 | 100 | 200 | 2,100 | 4,200 | 3,200 | |
| 12 | Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) | 3,146 | 6 | 750 | 2,000 | 1,600 | 4,200 | 2,900 | |
| 13 | Tilapias nei (Oreochromis(=Tilapia) spp) MS | N/Y | 1,100 | 2 | 300 | 530 | 2,100 | 3,700 | 2,900 |
| 14 | Catla (Catla catla) | 3,286 | 6 | 1,000 | 2,000 | 1,600 | 3,300 | 2,500 | |
| 15 | Striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) | 2,682 | 5 | 933 | 1,385 | 1,900 | 2,900 | 2,400 | |
| 16 | Asian swamp eel (Monopterus albus) | 314 | 1 | 100 | 200 | 1,600 | 3,100 | 2,400 | |
| 17 | Roho labeo (Labeo rohita) | 1,993 | 4 | 863 | 2,000 | 1,000 | 2,300 | 1,700 | |
| 18 | Wuchang bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) | 763 | 1 | 450 | 500 | 1,500 | 1,700 | 1,600 | |
| 19 | Marine fishes nei (Osteichthyes) MS | 752 | 1 | 361 | 724 | 1,000 | 2,100 | 1,600 | |
| 20 | Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) | 266 | <1 | 146 | 249 | 1,100 | 1,800 | 1,400 | |
| 21 | Amur catfish (Silurus asotus) | 360 | 1 | 250 | 250 | 1,400 | 1,400 | 1,400 | |
| 22 | Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) | Y | 917 | 2 | 507 | 896 | 1,000 | 1,800 | 1,400 |
| 23 | Giant gourami (Osphronemus goramy) | 206 | <1 | 200 | 300 | 690 | 1,000 | 860 | |
| 24 | Mrigal carp (Cirrhinus mrigala) | 524 | 1 | 600 | 700 | 750 | 870 | 810 | |
| 25 | Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) | 259 | <1 | 300 | 400 | 650 | 860 | 750 | |
| 26 | European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) | Y | 263 | <1 | 301 | 422 | 620 | 870 | 750 |
| 27 | Cyprinids nei (Cyprinidae) MS | 679 | 1 | 666 | 1,436 | 470 | 1,000 | 750 | |
| 28 | Largemouth black bass (Micropterus salmoides) | 480 | 1 | 680 | 680 | 710 | 710 | 710 | |
| 29 | Blue-Nile tilapia hybrid (O aureus x O niloticus) | 411 | 1 | 603 | 603 | 680 | 680 | 680 | |
| 30 | Mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) | 337 | 1 | 500 | 500 | 670 | 670 | 670 | |
| 31 | Snakehead (Channa argus) | 462 | 1 | 700 | 700 | 660 | 660 | 660 | |
| 32 | Large yellow croaker (Larimichthys croceus) | 226 | <1 | 350 | 350 | 640 | 640 | 640 | |
| 33 | Climbing perch (Anabas testudineus) | 59 | <1 | 90 | 100 | 590 | 660 | 630 | |
| 34 | Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) | 454 | 1 | 695 | 769 | 590 | 650 | 620 | |
| 35 | Africa-bighead catfish hybrid (Clarias gariepinus x C macrocephalus) | 102 | <1 | 150 | 350 | 290 | 680 | 490 | |
| 36 | Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) | Y | 2,616 | 5 | 4,719 | 6,346 | 410 | 550 | 480 |
| 37 | Pangas catfishes nei (Pangasius spp) MS | 531 | 1 | 933 | 1,500 | 350 | 570 | 460 | |
| 38 | North African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) | Y | 236 | <1 | 423 | 854 | 280 | 560 | 420 |
| Total of above | 52,365 | 93 | 75,000 | 160,000 | 120,000 | ||||
| Total others | N/Y | 3,962 | 7 | 3,400 | 6,700 | 5,000 | |||
| Total estimate | 56,327 | 100 | 78,000 | 170,000 | 120,000 | ||||
Species with stunning parameters for automated humane slaughter are indicated. Fish numbers are estimated from aquaculture production tonnages (FAO 2021) and estimated mean fish weights (EMWs). For categories comprising a single species, EMWs are based on corresponding fish size data. For multi-species categories (denoted ‘MS’) representing a genus (scientific name ending ‘spp’), EMWs are usually based on EMWs for related single-species categories. For more diverse categories, and those without fish size data obtained, EMWs are extrapolated (shown in italics). ‘Nei’ means unspecified species ‘not elsewhere included’. Source of species with stunning parameters: Spence (2014 cited in HSA 2018).