FAO

Key fisheries issues including joint collaboration on aquaculture policy, management of global fisheries and EU support to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing were discussed in a meeting yesterday between FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva and Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

Long chain Omega 3 fatty acids found in the marine environment are increasingly being found to be essential for human health and development. The International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organisation (IFFO) has just launched a short video explaining the origin of these important fats found in the marine environment, describing how latest research is showing that we should all consider increasing our consumption of EPA and DHA to ensure better health. The IFFO, an industry organization, has been promoting the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries in sourcing fish for the production of fishmeal and fish oil. The IFFO is an active observer at the FAO Committee on Fisheries, especially in its two Sub-Committees on Trade and Aquaculture. It collaborates with the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department on fishmeal and fish oil statistics and on resource sustainability based on the Code. For more information on the IFFO For more information on the FAO Committee on Fisheries

A first meeting of a Working Group on the Queen Conch, an important fishery resource in the Caribbean and Central America which has been valued, especially for its meat, for several centuries, took place in Panama City last month. The Working Group, which issued a "Declaration of Panama City", provided advice to the 16th Conference of Parties of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild flora and fauna) as well as recommendations to the regional fishery bodies and countries in the Western Central Atlantic. Participants also expressed their commitment to individually and collectively take measures and actions to further improve management and conservation of the Queen Conch resource in the Wider Caribbean Region. Declaration of Panama City (October 2012 Recommendations of the Working Group (May 2012) Image of the chairs of the Working Group © Patricia Murillo

‘Prevention is better than cure’ is the main message emerging from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/SPC Regional Workshop on Aquatic Biosecurity and Aquaculture Data and Statistics in the Pacific Region held in Nadi, Fiji, last week.

Meeting documents

FAO and other international organizations celebrate the Republic of Palau, Namibia and the Philippines in Hyderabad, India to award best policies to protect oceans and coasts. Peter E. Kenmore, FAO Representative in India, was among the presenters at the Future Policy Award 2012 ceremony.

Meeting documents

NEPAD-FAO Fish Programme - NFFP, the EAF-Nansen Project and the Sweden-Netherlands Multidonor fund jointly organize, in collaboration with other partners, a Workshop on the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries and to Aquaculture in Africa. The overall objective of the Workshop is to create a common platform of understanding of EAF/EAA concepts in Africa. Workshop announcement

NEPAD-FAO Fish Programme (NFFP) organizes a regional workshop on climate change, disasters and crises in the fisheries and aquaculture sector in West and Central Africa. The workshop will be held back to back with the FAO/NEPAD workshop on the Ecosystem Approach to fisheries and to Aquaculture in Africa, from 29 to 31 October. The objective of the workshop is to establish the current baseline with regard to the integration of climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk management (DRM) in fisheries and aquaculture activities and policies in West and Central Africa, and vice versa, of fisheries and aquaculture in climate change adaptation and disaster risk management strategies and plans, with the overall aim of coordinating activities and identifying gaps and priority actions to be supported by NFFP and other partners. Workshop announcement

The Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission (APFIC) calls for more effective management of the trawl sector in Asia, which balances the need to sustain marine fishery ecosystems with the demand for feeds for aquaculture.

A major international initiative has been launched to better understand the role of aquaculture in food security in poor countries.

The Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission (APFIC) has called for more effective management of the trawl sector in Asia, which balances the need to sustain marine fishery ecosystems with the demand for feeds for aquaculture.Meeting in Da Nang, Viet Nam, APFIC members recognized the challenges facing the region’s fisheries including overfishing in coastal areas particularly from trawling and the use of non-selective fishing gears. At the same time the need to sustain the livelihoods of large numbers of small-scale fishers as well as to meet the demand for low value fish/trash fish for feeds in marine/coastal aquaculture was noted.

ONLINE Registration and Meeting documents

ONLINE Registration and Meeting documents

Six policies from five countries are now shortlisted for the 2012 Future Policy Award, an international award that celebrates effective and exemplary policies. California, Namibia, Palau, the Philippines, and South Africa are still in the running. This year the topic of the award is the protection of oceans and coasts. Thirty-one different policies from 22 countries were nominated, ranging from integrated ocean and coastal policies, marine protected area programmes to laws regulating fisheries, trade in marine products, marine litter and land-sea interactions. For this year’s theme the World Future Council is partnering with FAO, as well as the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), with support from the Okeanos Foundation.

The Republic of Palau is the winner of the Future Policy Award 2012 . Palau received the Award in recognition of two outstanding marine policies (Protected Areas Network Act, initiated in 2003 and the Shark Haven Act from 2009). The two Silver Awards went to the Philippines for the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act (2010) and to Namibia for its Marine Resources Act (2000). FAO was a member of the international jury which felt the three winning policies contribute most effectively to the sustainable management of the world’s oceans and coasts for the benefit of current and future generations. The winners were announced today at the United Nations Headquarters in New York where Mr Carl Lewis, FAO Goodwill Ambassador, was also on hand. Fact Sheet on the Future Policy Award, partners and winners

The overall objective of the workshop is to support the development of the International Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF Guidelines) by providing inputs and advice, both with regard to good policies and practices in the region and in respect of overall principles and contents and to provide comments on the current Zero Draft of the SSF Guidelines. Discussions at the workshop will be forward looking and address implementation issues. The SSF Guidelines are intended to become an integral part of ongoing governance and development processes in support of small-scale fisheries. Accordingly, the workshop will promote cross-linkages between the SSF Guidelines and the policies and actions required in the Caribbean region.

Information and communications technology can greatly benefit both fisheries administrations and fishing communities alike. The Regional Fisheries Livelihoods Programme for South and Southeast Asia (RFLP) , funded by Spain and implemented by FAO, has used information and communications equipment in a wide range of initiatives. This paper highlights some of the benefits, lessons, tips and recommendations RFLP has learned through the use of technology.

The Regional Fisheries Livelihoods Programme for South and Southeast Asia (RFLP) has just published an advisory note to provide guidance to fisheries managers and fishers on the importance of proper planning and implementation of artisanal Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) programmes using anchored FADs for livelihoods and food security.

14 August 2012, Yeosu, Republic of Korea/Rome - Highlighting the important role that marine ecosystems play in feeding the world, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said this weekend that the responsible and sustainable management of oceans and coasts must become "a global priority."