The mission of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Economic and Policy Division (FIE) is to contribute effectively and efficiently to policy and institutional development for the promotion of sustainable capture fisheries and aquaculture and to actively influence the global capture fisheries and aquaculture agendas.
FIE is responsible for the economic, social, institutional, governance, policy, and management aspects of all programmes and activities related to capture fisheries and aquaculture and their sustainable development, with particular emphasis on improving human well-being, food security and poverty reduction. The Division provides advice, assistance and information to FAO Members on economics and policies, strategies, plans and programmes for capture fisheries and aquaculture management and development.
FIE has the primary responsibility within the Department for development and implementation of international instruments with regard to capture fisheries and aquaculture. FIE promotes, in particular, the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, its related instruments and other relevant international instruments, and elaborates additional guidelines and international plans of action in specific areas. Technical assistance is provided for the development of regional and national plans of action.
FIE acts as the Secretariat of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) and coordinates and supervises the provision of secretariat services in support of the COFI Sub-Committees, and coordinates the implementation of the programme of work; liaises with other units and coordinates departmental inputs to FAO's statutory bodies (Conference, Council, FAO regional conferences and FAO regional fishery bodies) and monitors the follow-up action by the Department on decisions and recommendations of these bodies.
FIE is also responsible for providing and coordinating overall departmental support to regional fishery bodies and for ensuring liaison and coordination with international intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations (IGOs and NGO/CSOs, respectively) concerned with capture fisheries and aquaculture.
By fulfilling those responsibilities, FIE wishes to be an active, efficient and influential actor throughout the whole process of agenda setting and policy development and implementation for responsible capture fisheries and aquaculture and their greater contribution to food security and human wellbeing.