30 May 2013, Rome - Surges in jellyfish populations may be one reason for a drop in fish stocks observed in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, according to a new report published by FAO.

The FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department has just launched the Aquaculture Feed and Fertilizer Resources Information System (AFFRIS).

AFFRIS provides information on globally important aquaculture feed, feed ingredients, fertilizers and nutrient resources. Associated guidelines describe how to use this information in order to optimize on-farm feeding and feed management strategies, including nutritional profiles of commercially-important selected aquaculture species.

AFFRIS includes:
. Aquaculture feed resource database to include the nutrient composition, amino acid and fatty acid profile and mineral contents of globally important feed and feed ingredients; and information on toxicity and ant-nutritional factors inhibiting their use
. Aquaculture species profile including their nutritional requirements, food and feeding habits, feed formulation and production, common husbandry practices and their nutritional deficiency signs and syndromes
. Frequently Asked Questions about the feed and nutrition of commercially-important aquaculture species
. Images of aquaculture species with special reference to nutrition, feeding and feed management
. Related publications
. Useful links of aquaculture and feed related organizations, networks and similar information systems


The rich variety of information contained in AFFRIS can help countries maximize their use of locally available feed and fertilizer resources, thus reducing their dependence upon imported fertilizers, feed ingredient sources and ready-made compound aquafeeds.

For further information: Mohammad Hasan

Development of community-based milkfish farming in Tonga will be given a boost through a project under the FAO Technical Cooperation Programme.

After the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, FAO helped with the preparation of a post-tsunami master plan for fisheries infrastructure rehabilitation, contributing to reconstructing and developing the inshore marine fisheries sector. A new FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report, Developing fish landing centres: experiences and lessons from Sri Lanka, describes this work who goal was to improve the livelihoods of fishers and fishing communities in those tsunami-affected areas in Sri Lanka.

Small-scale fisheries contribute to poverty alleviation, food and nutrition security, and economic development in the Caribbean region. A new FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report, describes a meeting held in Jamaica last December which looked at how guidelines for small-scale fisheries can compliment existing international instruments like the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF).