FAO Aquaculture Newsletter (FAN) 61 is out

Aquaculture is high on the global food system agenda,” proclaims the editorial of the sixty-first edition of FAO’s Aquaculture Newsletter. Issued twice a year as an online and printed newsletter, FAN presents articles and views from the aquaculture programme from the perspectives of both headquarters and the field programme.

In addition to the regular sections from the aquaculture statistician and fish health specialist, this issue showcases FAO’s work around the world, presenting activities in many countries and (sub-) regions, including the Maghreb, the United States of America, the Balkan and Caucasus countries, Pakistan, and Southern Africa. A story of how youth catfish farmers are connecting through social media, and another on how agroecological approaches can be used in intensive shrimp farming, are among the diverse subjects in this issue. Five thematic articles, rich in scope, cover topics including aquaculture in desert and arid lands, integrated rice-fish systems, new developments in alternative feed ingredients, dimensions of policy and governance improvements, and tracking of farmed types of aquatic genetic resources. The three last sections focus on new staff profiles in the FAO Aquaculture Branch, new FAO aquaculture publications and a calendar of events. Our former colleague Michael Vinke is remembered in this issue.

Aquaculture is indeed high on the docket for several international fora and events, including the UN Ocean Conference and the 25th anniversary of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, which highlights aquaculture’s role in the global food system, and underlines its relevance to humanity’s collective goals for sustainable development. To that end, this edition of FAN describes the future Global Conference on Aquaculture Millennium +20, to be held in Shanghai, China, which will review status, trends and emerging issues in aquaculture development, identify opportunities and challenges in aquaculture and its contributions to sustainable development, and build upon the partnerships needed for advancing aquaculture as a global, sustainable and competitive food production sector.

PDF: http://www.fao.org/3/ca8302en/CA8302EN.pdf

Information: A. Stankus

How is COVID-19 affecting the fisheries and aquaculture food systems

The full range of activities required to deliver fish and fish products from production to the final consumer is subject to indirect impacts of the pandemic through new sanitary measures, changing consumer demands, market access or logistical problems related to transportation and border restrictions. This in turn has a damaging effect on fishers and fish farmers' livelihoods, as well as on food security and nutrition for populations that rely heavily on fish for animal protein and essential micronutrients.

This policy brief reviews on going challenges and proposes measures to protect production and income of the sector and the most vulnerable, as well as maintain operations and support the supply chain.

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Activities and developments, 2000–2017

The regional dimension is key to international fisheries management policy. There are some 50 regional fisheries bodies worldwide. Most provide only advice to their members, and are hence referred to in this work as regional fisheries advisory bodies (RFABs).

Regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) have mandates to adopt legally binding conservation and management measures based on the best scientific evidence. Global instruments and normative processes have to be implemented and translated into actions at the country and regional levels, as appropriate. In this regard, regionalization of fisheries and aquaculture governance can provide opportunities not only to address common concerns, create synergies and mainstream the global objectives of relevant UN bodies, but also to broaden outreach on the global fisheries agenda to regional partners that may not be directly concerned with fisheries, as well as to the general public.

The present study provides an overview of the activities and developments of RFMOs and RFABs from 2000 to 2017. It is based on a compilation of data and information for 46 RFMOs and RFABs.

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Not business as usual in Europe's largest fishing port

On almost any given day, at four-thirty in the morning, while most people are still sleeping, Europe's biggest fishing port in Vigo, Spain is in full swing.

But these are not normal times.

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