Fisheries in East Asia

The marine fisheries in East Asia are the most productive in the world. Fish are crucial to the economies and food security of East Asian countries. Asia has the most fishermen in the world, and the Asian diet depends more heavily on fish than does any in the rest of the world. At the same time, fish contribute to healthy ecosystems. But fisheries in East Asia are under heavy strain. China and Japan are already two of the largest fish-producing and consuming nations in the works, and demand for fish is projected to increase over the next few years as the middle classes in developing Asian countries expand.