From 28 to 29 February 2000 FAO convened an Expert
Consultation on the Proposed Sub-committee on Aquaculture of the Committee on Fisheries in
the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok. The Consultation was attended
by 33 participants from 14 countries, two regional intergovernmental organizations, two
international non-governmental organizations and the FAO Secretariat. The Consultation was
welcomed by Mr Dong Quinsong, Deputy Regional Representative and Officer-in-Charge of
FAO's Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. The Consultation elected Mr Glenn Hurry as
Chairperson of the Consultation, and Mr Yugraj Singh Yadava was as Vice-Chairperson. Mr
Jiansan Jia, Chief Inland Water Resources and Aquaculture Service, Fisheries Department,
FAO, provided an introduction on the purpose and background for the Consultation. |
Background to the Expert Consultation
to review key issues in aquaculture and
to determine those of international importance requiring the establishment of an
intergovernmental forum for the development of norms and action aiming at sustainable
contribution of aquaculture to food security and economic development in FAO member
countries; to study the practical implications of the establishment of the proposed Sub-committee on Aquaculture, including the determination of benefits for FAO member countries and interested parties and the financial implications of holding regular biennial meetings; |
The findings of the Expert Consultation The Expert Consultation concurred:
The
Consultation confirmed that a global intergovernmental mechanism is needed that can
provide the opportunity for information exchange, discussion and consensus-building among
various parties interested in global aquaculture development and provide means to advise
and guide COFI and FAO. The Consultation confirmed that the growing importance of
aquaculture and its interactions justified a specific focus. |
justified. The Consultation discussed a wide range of relevant
issues to be addressed by the Sub-committee, and drafted a set of terms of reference as
well as possible elements for a future programme of activities for the Sub-committee for
consideration by the next meeting of COFI. The role of aquaculture in food
security, economic development and poverty alleviation; Consumer issues (food safety, quality and certification); Human resource development (training and education), research and extension; Environmental aspects of aquaculture development; Institutional capacity building and policy development; and Statistics, data and information management. Three specific areas were identified as warranting high priority and immediate attention because of their potential impact and their links with ongoing activities of FAO:
Support of the implementation of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries through the development and refinement of best management practices in aquaculture; Enhancement of institutional capacity building through networking and strengthened regional and interregional collaboration in all areas and in particular in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean. The Consultation felt that these three areas and the identification of appropriate follow-up activities could be considered as elements of the provisional agenda for the first meeting of the Sub-committee. The participant from the P.R. China indicated that there is an offer from his government to host the first meeting of the Sub-committee on Aquaculture and cover local costs. |