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Committee on Fisheries

COFI

Committee on Fisheries, COFI37

Thirty-seventh session, 7-11 September 2026

FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy

The Committee on Fisheries (COFI), a subsidiary body of the FAO Council, was established by the FAO Conference in 1965.

It is the only global inter-governmental forum where FAO Members meet to consider the issues related to fisheries and aquaculture.

COFI is a unique body in that it provides periodic global recommendations and policy advice to governments, regional fishery bodies, civil society organizations, and actors from the private sector and international community.

The Committee has fostered the development and adoption of several binding agreements as well as non-binding instruments that have reshaped how the sector works in the interests of resource sustainability and biodiversity conservation.

COFI Sub-Committees
Highlights
Margarita Lizárraga Medal Award

The Margarita Lizárraga Medal is awarded biennially to individuals or organizations in recognition of their exemplary contributions to the application of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

Key global meeting of fisheries and aquaculture policymakers and experts tackles range of issues

The 36th Session of COFI had more than 960 participants, almost 700 of whom were present in person, representing 110 COFI Members including the European Union, 21 COFI country observers, and 84 organizations.

COFI 36 adopts Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture

Adopted by Members, the GSA now inform the programmatic work of FAO in implementing the FAO' Blue Transformation roadmap, ensuring that all aquaculture projects and programmes are pulling in the same direction.

Climate risks projected to affect fish biomass around the world's ocean, FAO report says

New projections highlight potential climate risks to exploitable fish biomass for nearly all regions of the world's ocean, including top producer countries and those with high reliance on aquatic foods.

Global meeting focuses on fisheries and aquaculture’s vital role in tackling food insecurity, malnutrition and poverty

The Committee on Fisheries (COFI) is the largest global gathering of policymakers, experts and partners in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

COFI36 Photo gallery

Check out the COFI36 Photo Gallery to see the events and activities from the 36th session of the Committee.

Blue Transformation – A vision for resilient, equitable and sustainable aquatic food systems