YEAR IN REVIEW 2001: AGRICULTURE

Agriculture and Food Supplies Starvation, genetically modified organisms, "mad cow" disease, and weather-related problems all captured headlines in the year 2000 and raised questions about the world's food supply. Fisheries The finalized figures for world fish catch during 1998, the latest year for which figures were available, were confirmed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) at 86.3 million metric tons. The figure was lower than the estimate of 87.8 million metric tons published in late 1999. The result was a 7.8% decrease from the 1997 figure of 93.6 million metric tons of fish caught and reversed the trend that had been observed since 1991 of a steady climb in catch totals. China again took an increasing share of the total catch with 17.2 million metric tons, a 9.6% increase over the 1997 figure and a massive 300% rise in the 10 years since 1989. Following three years of stability in catch, Japan (in second place) fell from 5.9 million metric tons in 1997 to 5,260,000 metric tons in 1998. The El Nio weather pattern in the Pacific Ocean had a drastic effect on the anchovy resources off Peru, which registered a drop from 7,870,000 metric tons in 1997 to 4,340,000 metric tons in 1998. Figures for 1999, however, showed that the resources had recovered strongly, with a total of 8.5 million metric tons recorded, and forecasts for the 2000 catch were even higher. Reductions in catch during 1997 were also recorded for Chile, which suffered from the effects of El Nio, as well as for South Korea, Iceland, Denmark, and Mexico. None of the top 25 countries except China showed a strong increase for the year. Aquaculture contributed an additional 30.9 million metric tons for a total marine production of 117.2 million metric tons in 1998. China continued as the world leader, with aquaculture production of 20.8 million metric tons, an increase from 19.3 million metric tons in 1997. During 2000 the FAO produced a projection of world fishery production in 2010. Estimates ranged between 107 million and 144 million metric tons; it was likely that about 30 million metric tons would be reduced to fish meal and oil for nonfood use. An estimated 74 million to 114 million metric tons would be made available for human consumption. It was expected that most of the increase in fish production would come from aquaculture. The contribution from capture fisheries would depend on further development and the effectiveness of fisheries management. According to the FAO, if management of currently overfished stocks was improved, there could be an increase of between 5 million and 10 million metric tons; continued overfishing, however, would result in decreasing production. The world's largest-capacity fishing vessel, which was launched in September 2000, arrived at its home port on the west coast of Ireland. The Atlantic Dawn, built at a cost of 50 million (about $75 million), was capable of freezing and storing a massive 7,000 metric tons of whole frozen pelagic fish on three decks of holds. The vessel was 144 m (472 ft) long, with a beam of 24.3 m (80 ft) and a carrying capacity estimated to be some 2,000 metric tons greater than its nearest rival. To keep such a vessel economical, the designers built it to be as flexible as possible and to be able to fish worldwide either as a pelagic trawler or by utilizing purse seine techniques. The Atlantic Dawn was scheduled to begin fishing for sardinella, mackerel, and horse mackerel in West African waters off the coast of Mauritania. Martin Gill