Fisheries and aquaculture are a critical part of global agri-food systems transformation, says FAO Director-General

Fisheries and aquaculture are of critical importance for global agri-food systems transformation as well as recovering from the COVID-19 crisis, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, said today.

The Director-General addressed the opening of the 34^th session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI), which is the only global inter-governmental forum where FAO Members meet to review and consider the issues and challenges related to fisheries and aquaculture. It is being held virtually for the first time.

In his remarks, Qu noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the fisheries and aquaculture sector through changing consumer demands, market access and logistical problems related to transportation and border restrictions. He also highlighted that fisheries and aquaculture are essential for the world economy to build back better from the COVID-19 crisis.

"The potential of a modern aquaculture to grow and feed the world is extraordinary," Qu said, noting that 10 percent of the world's population relies on the fisheries and aquaculture sector for their livelihoods, mostly small producers that need support.

FAO's  State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA), issued in June 2020, estimates that total fish production is set to increase to 204 million tonnes in 2030, up 15 percent from 2018, with aquaculture's share growing from its current 46 percent. Aquaculture has been the fastest expanding food production sector globally for the last 50 years, growing at an average of 5.3 percent per year since the turn of the century.

The Director-General invited FAO Members to take advantage of COFI34 to discuss how the production, processing, trade and consumption of aquatic foods can be transformed as part of a broader agri-food systems transformation, making them more sustainable, resilient and inclusive.

"We know that land alone will not feed us with abundant quantity and food diversity - we need Blue Transformation to secure Blue Food production," he added, stressing the importance of modernizing traditional fisher culture with innovative approaches and digital technologies.

"Combining fisheries with tourism and educational activities is a way of keeping the cultural heritage alive and creating new values and new job opportunities," Qu said as an example.

The Director-General also pointed out the benefits of fish in diets, especially for pregnant women, children and in combatting all forms of malnutrition, stressing that fish should be promoted in food and nutrition strategies across the world. 

"The fisheries and aquaculture sector has a crucial contribution to make within the Four Betters: better Production, better nutrition, better environment and better life," he said.

FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries turns 25

FAO's Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries turned 25 last year. The landmark instrument, adopted by the FAO Conference in 1995, has been guiding efforts towards sustainable fisheries and aquaculture around the world.

A High-level Special Event was being held later today will review the impact of the Code and consider a first-ever COFI Declaration for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, which aims to outline a global vision for the transformation of blue ecosystems. The keynote speaker is the Prime Minister of Norway, Erna Solberg.

The Code's anniversary comes at a challenging time as pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, unregulated practices and increased competition for the use of marine and coastal areas are threatening aquatic ecosystems and their resources.

FAO estimates that 34.2 percent of all marine fish stocks are fished beyond biological sustainable limits, a threefold increase since monitoring started in 1974.

COFI 34 will also review the SOFIA report, the role of small-scale fisheries and the livelihoods of coastal and inland fisheries communities, illegal fishing and fish operations at sea, as well as the critical role of women in the post-harvest and service sector.