The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has announced that fishing for seahorses and selling them in markets is now illegal. Anyone caught fishing for seahorses or selling them will face fines and legal action.

In the azure waters surrounding the Italian island of Procida in the Gulf of Naples lies a rich and dynamic marine environment. This is the home of the stony, purple sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus), an important herbivore, as well as prey for a number of fish, starfish and molluscs. This...

Sturgeons are among the most iconic of all Black Sea species but also among the most threatened species groups in the basin and in the world. Though fishing for the several species of sturgeon (Acipenseridae) present in the Black Sea basin is no longer permitted, this prohibition alone will not...

Foreign tuna fishing companies, mostly from Asia, have been exploiting Madagascar’s waters since the 1950s. The bloc that is now the European Union joined the hunt in 1986 and didn’t stop for decades, renewing its deal with Madagascar every few years. Yet when the last Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA), as...

The wide variety of marine species of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, found in different geographical subregions and habitats, has led to the development of a highly diversified fishing sector characterized by a broad range of fishing gear. Over time, harvesting marine resources has become more efficient due to...

Women are working to transform fisheries and aquaculture in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. International Women’s Day 2023 is an opportunity to reflect on the contribution of women to the sector, while recognizing that more still needs to be done to acknowledge and advance their key role in the value chain. FAO...

Efforts to keep shrimp catches in Cameroon at current levels while strengthening the shrimp fishery were in the spotlight today at the handover of a report by the global fish value chain development program FISH4ACP that is helping the country to make its shrimp sector stronger and to lessen its...

Over the past 20 years, substantial progress has been made in improving feeds and feeding technologies for most aquaculture species. Notable improvements in feed conversion efficiency (through a better understanding of requirements and improved feed management) and ingredient sustainability (through increased capability to use a wider range of ingredients) have been...

Oyster farming can help preserve mangroves, said Khadim Tine at FAO’s Science and Innovation Forum debate on addressing climate challenges. An interview with this oyster farmer from Senegal, who is actively involved in efforts by the global fish value chain development program FISH4ACP to make Senegal’s oyster more productive and...

Progress at making coastal pelagic fisheries in Sao Tome and Principe more profitable and environmentally sustainable was showcased today, as a report outlining an overhaul of this sector that is key for food and jobs on the African island nation was presented to media.     “Coastal pelagics provide healthy and affordable...

This report presents the design and results of a baseline survey with respect to a project of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) focusing on empowering women in small-scale fisheries. The project supports the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the...

Este documento va dirigido a las personas que día a día trabajan en la pesca y la acuicultura artesanales en pequeña escala en América del Sur, hombres y mujeres que permiten que tengamos alimentos sanos y nutritivos, y que contribuyen a la seguridad alimentaria y al desarrollo local. Se presentan...

Aquaculture is the world's fastest-growing food production sector and has enormous potential to meet the demand for sustainable food security and nutrition. This week more than 120 delegates from 60 Member countries are meeting to discuss the challenges and future trends of aquaculture in Hermosillo, Mexico (May 16-19) for the 12th...

Parties to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’  Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA) have agreed to strengthen efforts to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing by extending vessel inspections, exchanging global information and improving the capacity of developing states. The Fourth Meeting of the Parties, an event hosted by the...

Virtual, 31/05/2023 - 31/05/2023 Empowering women seafood harvesters, processors and vendors is key to attaining sustainable fisheries. CFI and FAO experts share their knowledge and experience in order to achieve this goal.

Ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) calls for adequate indicators to measure and support its performance of achieving optimal integrated social, environmental, and economic outcomes. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 14, Target 14.7 and Indicator 14.7.1, are expected to contribute to EBFM with their multidimensional measurability, international comparability, and emphasis on inclusiveness. However, this...

Government officials, fish industry captains, civil society and private sector representatives have launched consultations on a new fisheries and aquaculture bill for Zimbabwe. Hailed as a first of its kind piece of legislation, the bill marks a milestone in efforts by the Southern African nation to bolster its fisheries and...

Correction: The original version of this story had a headline stating the E.U. joined South Pacific groups. The Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) and Sustainable Indian Ocean Tuna Initiative (SIOTI) are both based in the Indian Ocean, not the South Pacific.  The Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), Sustainable Indian Ocean Tuna Initiative (SIOTI),...

The Republic of Serbia is the latest country to join the European Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Advisory Commission. Jelena Tanaskovic, Serbia’s Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, informed QU Dongyu, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), of the country’s decision to join EIFAAC...

The Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) are relevant to both marine and inland fisheries. Inland fisheries are.