We are pleased to inform you that the Third (FAO) Assessment of Global Marine Fisheries Discards has been published on 17 January 2019.

Abstract
The first discard estimate was published in 1994 by Alverson et al., and the second one in 2005 by Kelleher. This third update of FAO’s global discard estimate adopted the ‘fishery-by-fishery’ approach employed in the second discards assessment published in 2005. Unfortunately, it is difficult to quantify the progress made in reducing discards due to different methodologies used in the 3 estimates but this report indicates that in the last 10 years there has been greater scrutiny of such issues via public reporting of discards. This report also includes (i) a review of available data on estimating and mitigating fisheries interactions with endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) species, (ii) an overview of current measures to manage bycatch and discards and (iii) a summary of challenges associated with estimating cryptic sources of fishing mortality such as pre-catch, discards and ghost fishing mortality. The publication will be presented on 30 January 2019 in Denmark at the Science - Policy conference for the closing of Horizon 2020 DiscardLess project.

You can access the publication and supplementary materials online through the following links:

- PDF

-Card page

We are pleased to announce that the article below has been published as OnlineOpen

Corner, R. A., Aguilar-Manjarrez, J., Massa, F. and Fezzardi, D. (2018)

Abstract
Aquaculture provides more than half of the fish used for human consumption, contributing to food security and nutrition, economic growth and improved livelihoods. Aquaculture production in countries bordering the Mediterranean and Black Sea has grown steadily, though not homogenously, mainly based on marine species. To boost development, there is a need to support governance to establish activities within a coordinated spatial planning process. Knowledge of aquaculture spatial planning processes are assessed through consultations with stakeholders from 21 countries using a structured questionnaire, internal review and a workshop to determine major barriers to the implementation in the region. Results suggest different levels of knowledge of regulatory systems in the countries surveyed. Aquaculture zoning is widespread. Site selection is a long and inefficient process, a barrier to investment, exacerbated by an apparent lack of a clear distribution of power and responsibilities. Area management is the least implemented part of the spatial planning process, with few examples of an integrated approach. Poor social acceptance of aquaculture, low technical knowledge and understanding of spatial planning concepts, and a lack of meaningful communication are among the problems highlighted by stakeholders. Although recent advances are evident, the integration of aquaculture with other users of marine space remains a work in progress that requires a specific regulatory framework, capacity building, transparency, good communication and participatory processes. Application of spatial planning following an ecosystem approach to aquaculture can contribute to improvements that have the potential to counter the negative externalities of unplanned or uncoordinated development.

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10-14 December 2018, FAO headquarters, Rome, Italy

Bringing together the wider community of scientists and experts working on fisheries and the marine environment in the Mediterranean and Black Sea in order to build a lasting network, discuss advancements in research, integrate scientific knowledge in support of decision-making and identify research priorities for the coming decade.

Over 500 participants are expected to fill FAO headquarters to attend, during the course of the week, 7 workshops, over 104 oral contributions from 3 different thematic sessions, 3 expert roundtables and 9 side events.

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More information on General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) website

26 Nov 2018 Top photo: AMR/RA/AAH experts debate on risk of AMR in aquaculture 29 Nov 2018: Bottom photo: Experts from candidate FAO Reference Laboratory for Aquaculture Biosecurity (inc AMR) from China, India and USA Dr Richard Arthur (Canada), Dr Iddya Karunasagar (India, Nitte University), Dr Peter Smith (Ireland), Dr Rohana Subasinghe (Sri Lanka), Dr Olafur Valsson (Iceland, OIE), Dr David Verner-Jeffreys (UK, CEFAS), Dr Carlos Zarza (Spain, Skretting), Dr Patricia Gaunt (USA, MSU), Dr Jiang Lan (China, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute), Dr Wang Yingeng and Dr Zhang Zheng (China, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute) and FAO HQ Officers (Dr Melba Reantaso, Dr Hao Bin, Ms Elena Irde)

A meeting of an Expert Group composed of the following experts, namely: Dr R. Arthur (Canada), Dr I. Karunasagar (India, Nitte University), Dr P. Smith (Ireland), Dr R. Subasinghe (Sri Lanka), Dr O. (Iceland, OIE), Dr D. (U.K., CEFAS), Dr C. Zarza (Spain, Skretting), Dr P. Gaunt (USA, MSU), Dr J. Lan (China, PRFRI), Dr W. Yingeng and Dr Z. Zheng (China, YSFRII) and FAO Officers (Dr M. Reantaso, Dr H. Bin, Ms E. Irde), engaged in a scoping exercise to increase the understanding of the risks of AMR in aquaculture. Setting the scene with technical presentations (e.g. Recent global and regional initiatives to reduce AMR, Overview and current status of knowledge on AMR, AMR risk analysis for human medicine: the WHO framework and guidance, AMR risk analysis for aquaculture: the OIE framework, Observations on the OIE RA framework and CODEX framework, Oral delivery of medicines through aqua feed: AMR risk factors), the Expert Group performed a risk profiling of two important bacterial pathogen groups (Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Streptococcus spp.). The Expert Group was of the opinion that risk profiling as outlined in Codex provides a useful guidance, but it would need to be reviewed and adapted as appropriate for aquatic AMR RA. The risk profiling exercise for the above two bacterial pathogens revealed that in both cases, the AMR risks posed by these pathogens were likely to be low and thus conducting a full risk assessment was not recommended. Strain differentiation and pathogenicity as outlined in Codex are essential in understanding the AMR risks posed by bacteria affecting aquaculture production. Discussions on potential development of a proposal to contribute to a multisectoral project "Towards reducing aquaculture-based AMR through a cross-sectoral approach" followed. A consensus was reached to develop a project concept that will include Streptococcus spp. and mesophilic aeromonads as the bacterial agents for investigation, as these pathogens are important to both animal and human health. These two bacterial agents are important pathogens of tilapia, the second largest species group produced in aquaculture globally, which contributes significantly to global food and nutrition security. A short meeting of the FAO Reference Centers for Aquaculture Biosecurity (including AMR), participated by China, India and the USA discussed a joint work program that included activities within the pillars of the FAO Action Plan on AMR (awareness, evidence, governance and practices) including joint resource mobilization. The next meeting of the expert group is planned to be in China in mid-2019.

More information: Melba.Reantaso@fao.org

ABSTRACT
This issue of FAN contains an editorial on Opportunities for aquaculture development in drylands, and four main sections on:

1. Global aquaculture updates with an article from statistician's desk providing an Overview of recently published global aquaculture statistics; one article from the fish health specialist's desk on FAO efforts to build capacity in dealing with Tilapia Lake Virus; one article providing information on the Thirty-third Session of Committee on Fisheries (COFI); one contribution on a special workshop on Advancing integrated agriculture-aquaculture through agroecology and one on FAO presence at AQUA 2018 Conference in Montpellier.
2. Aquaculture updates by region offers information on ongoing projects, activities and events by region particularly: three articles for Asia-Pacific; four articles for Europe; three articles for the Near East and North Africa; one articles for Latin America and the Caribbean; five articles for Sub-Saharan Africa.
3. There are three thematic articles on the following subjects:
   1. World aquaculture - the next 20 years;
   2. Preparation of the States of the Word Report on Aquatic Genetic Resources;
   3. Lessons to be learned from aquaculture development in China.
4. Miscellaneous section contains three contributions with the following titles:
   1. Conservation and Management of Aquatic Genetic Resources: technical exchange visit between Zambia and Hungary; and
   2. Approaching fifty years of the Aquatic science and Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA);
   3. Aquaculture production and marketing in the Roman empire. The three last sections focus on new staff profiles in the FAO Aquaculture Branch, new FAO aquaculture publications and Calendar of events.

PDF: http://www.fao.org/3/CA2325EN/ca2325en.pdf

Information: V. Crespi