A Study on the Global Trade Structure of Live Fish Using Social Network Analysis

The purpose of this study is to analyze the global live fish trade structure in 2001 and 2023 through network analysis. The findings reveal that the global live fish trade volume exhibited limited growth, primarily concentrated in the Asian market. In 2024, the trade volume reached 2.84 billion dollars, with approximately 60% of the trade occurring among Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong, and China. Network analysis indicates that the connectivity between countries remained largely unchanged, while one-way trade patterns centered on Asian nations became more pronounced. The number of participating countries saw minimal growth, increasing from 138 to 141, suggesting that the live fish trade market remained confined to a select group, predominantly within Asia. The analysis identifies Asian countries such as China, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan as the core hubs of the global live fish trade network. This centrality has further solidified over time. Notably, China’s influence within the network has grown significantly. In terms of network metrics, these Asian nations demonstrate high levels of degree centrality and eigenvector centrality, underscoring their pivotal role in the trade dynamics.