World fisheries data is a goldmine for exam setters. The Food and Agriculture Organization’s State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2026 (SOFIA 2026), published on 16 June 2026, is the single most quotable source for questions on global production, aquaculture, trade and sustainability — and its headline numbers changed in 2024. Aquaculture crossed 100 million tonnes for the first time, total output hit a record 235 million tonnes, and tuna catches set a new record. This set of 20 multiple-choice questions turns those official figures into exam practice.
How to use this set: Cover the answer key at the bottom, attempt all 20 questions in 20 minutes, and score yourself honestly. Anything below 15 means you need to revise the data table below before your next mock test. Every figure here comes from FAO SOFIA 2026 — its key facts release and Table 1.1 (world fisheries and aquaculture trends at a glance) — not from coaching-class notes.
World Fisheries 2024 at a Glance (FAO SOFIA 2026)
Before the questions, lock in the headline numbers. Global fisheries and aquaculture production reached a record 235 million tonnes in 2024, including almost 195 million tonnes of aquatic animals and nearly 40 million tonnes of algae. Farmed aquatic animals reached 102.7 million tonnes (about 103 million tonnes) — the first time aquaculture has topped 100 million tonnes — while capture fisheries produced 91.9 million tonnes (about 92 million tonnes) of aquatic animals and have essentially plateaued since the late 1980s.
| Indicator (2024 unless stated) | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total global production (animals + algae) | 235 million tonnes | FAO SOFIA 2026 |
| Aquatic animal production | 194.6 million tonnes (≈195) | FAO SOFIA 2026, Table 1.1 |
| Aquaculture — aquatic animals | 102.7 million tonnes (≈103) | FAO SOFIA 2026, Table 1.1 |
| Aquaculture — inland / marine | 64.3 / 38.3 million tonnes | FAO SOFIA 2026, Table 1.1 |
| Aquaculture including algae | 141 million tonnes, valued at $391 billion | FAO SOFIA 2026 |
| Aquaculture share of animal production / food | 53% / over 59% | FAO SOFIA 2026 |
| Capture fisheries — aquatic animals | 91.9 million tonnes (≈92) | FAO SOFIA 2026, Table 1.1 |
| Capture — marine / inland | 79.6 / 12.3 million tonnes | FAO SOFIA 2026, Table 1.1 |
| Tuna catches | Record 9.3 million tonnes | FAO SOFIA 2026 |
| Anchoveta catches | Over 5.0 million tonnes (from 2.4 in 2023, +109%) | FAO SOFIA 2026 |
| Landings from biologically sustainable stocks (2023) | 72.6% | FAO SOFIA 2026 |
| Per capita aquatic animal food availability | 21.1 kg (2023); est. 21.3 kg (2024) | FAO SOFIA 2026, Table 1.1 |
| Aquatic animal trade value | $184 billion; over one-third of production traded | FAO SOFIA 2026 |
| Projected total aquatic animal production, 2034 | 214 million tonnes | FAO SOFIA 2026 |
| Livelihoods supported by the sector | Over 600 million people | FAO SOFIA 2026 |
| Direct employment — aquaculture / capture (2024) | 23.1 / 36.2 million people | FAO SOFIA 2026, Table 1.1 |
The 20 MCQs
Q1. According to FAO SOFIA 2026, total world fisheries and aquaculture production in 2024 was:
(a) 195 million tonnes (b) 214 million tonnes (c) 235 million tonnes (d) 254 million tonnes
Q2. Of the 2024 total, production of aquatic animals alone was about:
(a) 141 million tonnes (b) 173 million tonnes (c) 195 million tonnes (d) 214 million tonnes
Q3. In 2024, aquaculture production of aquatic animals reached a historic first — it crossed:
(a) 50 million tonnes (b) 80 million tonnes (c) 100 million tonnes (d) 150 million tonnes
Q4. Aquaculture now provides what share of total aquatic animal production?
(a) 41% (b) 47% (c) 53% (d) 61%
Q5. Aquaculture provides over what share of aquatic animal food output?
(a) 49% (b) 59% (c) 69% (d) 79%
Q6. Capture fisheries production of aquatic animals in 2024 was about:
(a) 80 million tonnes (b) 92 million tonnes (c) 103 million tonnes (d) 112 million tonnes
Q7. Within capture fisheries in 2024, marine capture accounted for about:
(a) 60 million tonnes (b) 70 million tonnes (c) 80 million tonnes (d) 90 million tonnes
Q8. Inland capture fisheries reached a record in 2024 of:
(a) 10.3 million tonnes (b) 11.4 million tonnes (c) 12.3 million tonnes (d) 14.1 million tonnes
Q9. Which group set a record catch in 2024 at 9.3 million tonnes?
(a) Anchoveta (b) Tuna (c) Salmon (d) Shrimp
Q10. Anchoveta catches in 2024 rebounded by 109% over 2023 to:
(a) 3.4 million tonnes (b) 4.2 million tonnes (c) over 5.0 million tonnes (d) 7.1 million tonnes
Q11. In 2023, what percentage of all landings came from biologically sustainable stocks?
(a) 62.4% (b) 68.9% (c) 72.6% (d) 78.2%
Q12. Global per capita availability of aquatic animal food in 2024 is estimated at:
(a) 19.3 kg (b) 20.7 kg (c) 21.3 kg (d) 22.9 kg
Q13. The value of aquatic animal trade in 2024 was about:
(a) $142 billion (b) $164 billion (c) $184 billion (d) $204 billion
Q14. Including algae, total aquaculture production in 2024 was 141 million tonnes, valued at:
(a) $291 billion (b) $341 billion (c) $371 billion (d) $391 billion
Q15. In 2024, inland aquaculture produced more than marine aquaculture. Inland aquaculture was:
(a) 44.9 million tonnes (b) 59.2 million tonnes (c) 64.3 million tonnes (d) 71.7 million tonnes
Q16. Marine aquaculture production in 2024 was:
(a) 26.8 million tonnes (b) 35.5 million tonnes (c) 38.3 million tonnes (d) 44.9 million tonnes
Q17. FAO projects total aquatic animal production to reach what level by 2034?
(a) 198 million tonnes (b) 206 million tonnes (c) 214 million tonnes (d) 235 million tonnes
Q18. The world fisheries and aquaculture sector supports livelihoods for:
(a) Over 200 million people (b) Over 400 million people (c) Over 600 million people (d) Over 800 million people
Q19. Direct employment in aquaculture in 2024 was about:
(a) 15.9 million (b) 21.7 million (c) 23.1 million (d) 36.2 million
Q20. In which year did aquaculture first surpass capture fisheries as the main producer of aquatic animals?
(a) 2018 (b) 2020 (c) 2022 (d) 2024
Answer Key (with one-line explanations)
1–(c) 235 million tonnes in 2024 — the record total, animals plus algae. 2–(c) 194.6 million tonnes, rounded to almost 195. 3–(c) 102.7 million tonnes (≈103) — the first time over 100. 4–(c) 53% of total aquatic animal production. 5–(b) Over 59% of aquatic animal food output. 6–(b) 91.9 million tonnes (≈92), essentially flat since the late 1980s. 7–(c) 79.6 million tonnes (≈80) marine capture. 8–(c) 12.3 million tonnes — an inland-capture record. 9–(b) Tuna, 9.3 million tonnes. 10–(c) Over 5.0 million tonnes, up from 2.4 million tonnes in 2023. 11–(c) 72.6% of landings in 2023. 12–(c) 21.3 kg estimated for 2024 (21.1 kg in 2023). 13–(c) $184 billion, rivalling terrestrial meat trade. 14–(d) $391 billion including algae. 15–(c) 64.3 million tonnes inland aquaculture. 16–(c) 38.3 million tonnes marine aquaculture. 17–(c) 214 million tonnes by 2034. 18–(c) Over 600 million livelihoods. 19–(c) 23.1 million in aquaculture (36.2 million is capture fisheries). 20–(c) 2022 — the crossover year reported in SOFIA 2024 and the baseline for the 2026 story.
Exam Tips: How Examiners Use SOFIA
Examiners rarely ask for the report’s title — they ask for the crossover: which year aquaculture overtook capture, which share aquaculture now holds, and which species set records. Remember the trio 235 – 103 – 92 (total, farmed animals, capture animals) and the pair 53% – 59% (share of production, share of food). If a question mentions “first time over 100 million tonnes”, the answer is aquaculture in 2024. If it mentions a 109% rebound, it is anchoveta. And note the trap in Q19: 36.2 million is capture employment, not aquaculture.
Keep Practising
Pair this set with our earlier question banks: Indian Marine Fisheries: 20 MCQs, Biofloc MCQs and Shrimp Farming MCQs. For the full story behind these numbers, read FAO SOFIA 2026: Global Fisheries Output Hits 235M Tonnes.
Official Sources
FAO, The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2026 (SOFIA 2026) — key facts and figures, FAO Newsroom, published 16 June 2026; and SOFIA 2026 Table 1.1, world fisheries and aquaculture trends at a glance. Full report (PDF): FAO Open Knowledge Repository. All figures above were checked against those sources on 29 October 2026; where FAO rounds a figure (103 million tonnes), the exact Table 1.1 value (102.7) is given alongside it.