Bangkok Declaration and Strategy for
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1. PreambleThe first international Conference on Aquaculture organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was held in Kyoto, Japan in 1976. The Conference adopted the Kyoto Declaration on Aquaculture. In February 2000, some 540 participants from 66 countries participated in the Conference on Aquaculture in the Third Millennium in Bangkok, Thailand. This Conference was organised by the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA) and the FAO and hosted by the Government of Thailand. Throughout 1999, NACA and the FAO facilitated the preparation of reviews on aquaculture developments in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America, the countries of the former USSR, the Near East, and the Pacific Island nations and held expert meetings to consider trends in aquaculture development. Thematic Reviews on various aspects of aquaculture were also conducted. Participants to the Bangkok Conference were informed of the findings and conclusions of these activities. Against this background, the Conference participants discussed strategies for the development of aquaculture for the next two decades, in the light of the future economic, social and environmental issues and advances in aquaculture technologies. Based on these deliberations, the participants to the Conference adopted the following Declaration. |
2. The declarationWe, the participants to the Conference on Aquaculture in the Third Millennium, Bangkok 2000, recognise that: 2.1 during the past three decades aquaculture has become the fastest growing food-producing sector and is an increasingly important contributor to national economic development, the global food supply and food security; 2.2. aquaculture consists of a broad spectrum of users, systems, practices and species, operating through a continuum ranging from backyard household ponds to large-scale industrial systems; 2.3 the per caput supply of food fish from capture fisheries is likely to decline with population increase; 2.4 a great proportion of aquaculture production comes from developing countries, where aquaculture will continue to contribute to peoples livelihoods, food security, poverty alleviation, income generation, employment and trade; 2.5 there has been a significant increase in commercial and industrial aquaculture, both in developed and developing countries, that has contributed to food supply, export income and trade; 2.6 globally, aquaculture is at varying stages of development and will require different strategies for growth; 2.7 the potential of aquaculture to contribute to food production has
not yet been realised across all continents; |
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2.8 aquaculture complements other food production systems,
and integrated aquaculture can add value to the current use of on-farm resources;
2.9 aquaculture can be an entry point for improving livelihoods, planning natural resource use and contributing to environmental enhancement; 2.10 responsible aquaculture practitioners are legitimate users of resources; 2.11 education and research will continue to make a significant contribution to the growth of aquaculture; 2.12 some poorly planned and managed aquaculture operations have resulted in negative impacts on ecosystems and communities; 2.13 aquaculture has also been negatively impacted by other unplanned activities; 2.14 the continued growth of aquaculture will occur through investment by the private and public sectors; 2.15 effective national institutional arrangements and capacity, policy, planning and regulatory frameworks in aquaculture and other relevant sectors are essential to support aquaculture development; 2.16 improving co-operation amongst stakeholders at national, regional and inter-regional levels is pivotal for further development of aquaculture; 2.17 the potential of aquaculture to contribute to human development and social empowerment cannot be fully realised without consistent, responsible policies and goals that encourage sustainable development; and declare that: 2.18 the aquaculture sector should continue to be developed towards its full potential, making a net contribution to global food availability, household food security, economic growth, trade and improved living standards; 2.19 the practice of aquaculture should be pursued as an integral component of development, contributing towards sustainable livelihoods for poor sectors of the community, promoting human development and enhancing social well-being; |
2.20 aquaculture policies and regulations should promote practical
and economically viable farming and management practices that are environmentally
responsible and socially acceptable;
2.21 national aquaculture development processes should be transparent and should take place within the framework of relevant national policies, regional and international agreements, treaties and conventions; 2.22 in pursuing development, States, the private sector, and other legitimate stakeholders should co-operate to promote the responsible growth of aquaculture; 2.23 strengthened regional and inter-regional co-operation should increase the efficiency and effectiveness of aquaculture development efforts; and2.24 all parties formulating improved policies and implementing practices for aquaculture development should consider and where appropriate, build on the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. The following contains the major strategy elements based on the Conference session recommendations. The detailed recommen-dations from the sessions are given in the Conference Report.
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3.2 Investting in research and developmentThere is a need to increase investment in aquaculture research, whilst making efficient use of research resources and building the capacity of research institutions to be more responsive to development requirements through such mechanisms as:
3.3 Improving information flow and communicationEfficient management of the sector requires improved information flows at the national, regional and inter-regional levels which will avoid duplication of effort and save costs, while encouraging consistency in areas such as education and training, policy-making, planning and the application of rules and procedures. Improved information flows will increase institutional capacities for dealing with emerging issues and can be achieved by:
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The collection and dissemination of accurate and verifiable information on aquaculture may help to improve its public image and should be given attention. 3.4 Improving food security and alleviating povertyEnhancing food security and alleviating poverty are major and complementary global priorities. Aquaculture has a special role in achieving these objectives because, firstly, fish is a highly nutritious food that forms an essential, if not indispensable, part of the diet of a large proportion of the people in developing countries. Secondly, while aquaculture contributes to the livelihoods of poor farming households, particularly in areas of Asia where it is a traditional farming practice, there is a huge, unfulfilled potential in most countries, as aquaculture is a relatively recent and underdeveloped sector as compared to agriculture and animal husbandry. Aquaculture could improve food security, provide entry points and contribute to sustainable livelihoods for the poor through:
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3.5 Improving environmental sustainabilityThere is a need to develop and adopt policies and practices that ensure environmental sustainability, including environmentally sound technologies and resource efficient farming systems, and integration of aquafarms into coastal area and inland watershed management plans. Improvements in environmental sustainability can be achieved through:
3.6 Integrating aquaculture into rural develomentWith the goal of increasing the impact of aquaculture on rural development and poverty alleviation, strategies are required to put people as the focal point for planning and development for such programmes and to integrate aquaculture into overall rural development programmes. In essence, this can be achieved through:
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3.7 Investing in aquaculture developmentFuture investment in aquaculture should be made with long-term strategies
in mind to ensure sustainability. Private sector investments make the
biggest contribution to aquaculture development, but adequate public sector
finance for capacity building, institutional development and infrastructure,
is indispensable for society to reap the full benefits of a well managed
and efficient aquaculture sector.
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International development assistance is becoming increasingly directed towards poverty alleviation and needs to adhere to basic principles of social equity, including gender equity, environmental sustainability, technical feasibility, economic viability and good governance. The level of risk is important when supporting initiatives to address poverty alleviation. To make efficient use of international donor resources, a programme approach to multi-sectoral development should be applied under which donors can more effectively co-operate and collaborate with each other. Ultimately, this should occur within comprehensive planning and development frameworks. There is thus a need for donors to adopt more cohesive approaches and procedures. 3.8 Strengthening institutional supportOne of the key issues for the growth of aquaculture will be the ability
of countries and organisations to strengthen their institutional capacity
to establish and implement policy and regulatory frameworks that are both
transparent and enforceable. Incentives, especially economic incentives,
deserve to be given more attention in the planning and management of aquaculture
development.
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3.9 Applying innovations in aquacultureThe technologies for sustainable aquaculture development should provide a varied and adaptable tool box from which people can select and design the system which most effectively meets their needs and best fits the opportunities and constraints of the local environment. The delivery of such techniques requires efficient communication networks, reliable data on the merits and drawbacks of the various approaches, and help with the decision making process through which people choose their production systems and species. As we move into the next two decades, water and land for aquaculture will become critical issues. New opportunities for aquaculture development will also emerge through improvements in science and technology for aquaculture systems. The potential areas for further consideration include:
3.10 Improving cultured-based fisheries and enhancementsFisheries enhancements in inland and coastal waters include culture-based fisheries and habitat modifications in common pool aquatic resources, which require minimal food and energy inputs. |
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These practices therefore provide important opportunities
for resource poor sections of the population to benefit from relevant aquaculture
technologies and permit efficient use of under-utilised, new or degraded
resources. Culture-based fisheries in particular have considerable potential
for increasing fish supplies from both freshwater and marine fisheries and
generating income in rural inland and coastal areas.
The full potential of enhancements and culture-based fisheries could be achieved by:
3.11 Managing aquatic animal healthDisease is currently an important constraint to aquaculture growth which has impacted both socio-economic development and rural livelihoods in some countries. Addressing aquatic animal health issues has, therefore, become an urgent requirement for sustaining growth of aquaculture, especially through pro-active programmes. Harmonising health protection approaches and measures and effective co-operation at national, regional and inter-regional levels are needed to maximise the effectiveness of limited resources. This can be achieved through:
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Establishment of an effective international mechanism, such as an international task force which is outcome-oriented with focused strategies and milestones that are independent of vested interests, would be beneficial in reducing the losses due to diseases in aquaculture. 3.12 Improving nutrition in aquacultureNutrition and feeding strategies play a central and essential role in the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector. Feed development will need to give increased emphasis on efficient use of resources and reduction of feed waste and nutrient discharge. Fishmeal reduction in diets will be important to reduce feed costs and avoid competition with other users. These can be achieved through:
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3.13 Applying genetics to aquacultureGenetics has an important role to play in increasing productivity and sustainability in aquaculture through higher survival, increased turnover rate, better use of resources, reduced production costs and environmental protection. This will require resources, but the benefits in both the short and long term should justify these efforts. There are many elements and practices of genetics that may be considered for aquaculture. Recognising that aquaculture has not benefited as much as terrestrial animal husbandry from the adoption of best practices such as selective breeding and stock improvement programmes, high priority should be given to the application of genetics in aquaculture. The interventions include:
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3.14 Applying biotechnologyBiotechnology as a science has the potential to impact on all food production sectors. In the future the aquaculture sector will confront the issue of biotechnology through:
3.15 Improving food quality and safetyAs consumer awareness increases, aquaculture producers, suppliers and
processors will need to improve the quality of products and enhance product
safety and nutritional value. The incentives for this will be potentially
higher prices, lower insurance rates and increased consumer demand.
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3.16 Promoting market development and tradeA focus on market development and trade will increase demand, add value and increase returns for aquaculture products. This will require developing marketing and promotional strategies for aquaculture products and understanding consumer requirements and changing market demands. These goals can be achieved through:
3.17 Supporting strong regional and inter-regional co-operationOver the years, regional and inter-regional co-operation has brought considerable benefits to aquaculture development through disse-mination of knowledge and expertise. In an era of globalisation, further strengthening of this co-operation at all levels will ensure increased benefits for sectoral development and sustainability. This could be achieved through:
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Implementation1.1 The Conference encourages States, the private sector and other concerned organisations to implement Strategies for Development of Aquaculture Beyond 2000. 1.2 The aquaculture sector has become considerably more diverse since the Kyoto Conference and has developed a broad range of stakeholders. This diversity provides considerable opportunity for productive co-operation. 1.3 The Conference recognises that the primary responsibilities for development and implementation of these strategies rest with States and their private sectors. The Conference recommends that States develop strategies through encouraging private sector development incorporating the key elements identified above. 1.4 The Conference further affirms that co-operative mechanisms among countries provide an excellent opportunity to co-ordinate and support the development of aquaculture, through sharing of experiences, technical support, and allocation of responsibilities for the varied research, education and information exchange. The fostering of co-operation among developing countries deserves special attention and support. 1.5 Furthermore, the Conference recommends that effective use of existing regional and inter-regional mechanisms be made, and that decision-makers seek to promote synergy and co-operation between existing organisations. Where effective regional inter-governmental organisations to promote co-operation in aquaculture development do not exist, such as in Africa and Latin America, building of such mechanisms, and sharing experiences with the existing regional networks, is recommended. 1.6 The Conference notes that there are considerable opportunities for enhanced regional and inter-regional co-operation among different partners including governments, non-governmental organisations, farmers organi-sations, regional and international organisations, development agencies, donors and lending agencies with a common interest in development through aquaculture. 1.7 In this regard, the Conference strongly recommends the development of an effective programme of regional and inter-regional co-operation to assist in implementation of the Strategies for Aquaculture Development Beyond 2000. |
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