The FAO is the only source of comprehensive global fishery statistics. It collects statistical data from national reporting offices and uses estimates when data are lacking or are considered unreliable. The FAO encourages standardised data submission procedures and the use of international classifications to ensure that the collected statistics are comparable across countries. Data collected is disseminated through both printed and electronic publications and aggregated data is also available through the FAO internet site.The FAO is the only international body systematically collecting data on global fisheries, which places it in a unique position to identify trends in the fisheries sector.
The FAO database on world capture fishery production and that on world aquaculture production are used in the preparation of the FAO Yearbook of Fishery Statistics. The volume on Capture Production presents data on the volume of nominal catches, for recent years by country, species and major fishing areas. That on Aquaculture Production presents a set of tables of annual production statistics in quantity and value by country, species and environment.
Data on employment in fisheries and aquaculture is disseminated through a Fisheries Circular. Employment in the capture fishery and aquaculture sectors is estimated for 1998 at about 36 million people, including about 15 million full-time workers, 13 million part-time and the rest occasional. The data suggest that growth in employment in the fisheries and aquaculture primary sectors has ceased.
Marine capture fisheries account for around 60% of those employed, while employment in inland and marine aquaculture is estimated at about 25% of the total. Analysis of trends relating to the world's fishing fleet are drawn from the FAOs database on the world's fishing fleet which is made available as an FAO Bulletin of Fishery Statistics. The FAO database on fishery commodities production and trade, used for preparing the Yearbook of Fishery Statistics and Commodities, reveals that fish trade has grown significantly in recent decades and that about 33% of fish production is now exported.
The FAO is the only source of comprehensive global fishery statistics. It collects statistical data from national reporting offices and uses estimates when data are lacking or are considered unreliable. The FAO encourages standardised data submission procedures and the use of international classifications to ensure that the collected statistics are comparable across countries. Data collected is disseminated through both printed and electronic publications and aggregated data is also available through the FAO internet site.The FAO is the only international body systematically collecting data on global fisheries, which places it in a unique position to identify trends in the fisheries sector.
The FAO database on world capture fishery production and that on world aquaculture production are used in the preparation of the FAO Yearbook of Fishery Statistics. The volume on Capture Production presents data on the volume of nominal catches, for recent years by country, species and major fishing areas. That on Aquaculture Production presents a set of tables of annual production statistics in quantity and value by country, species and environment. 
