Aquatic biodiversity used for food and agriculture underpins production in both capture fisheries and aquaculture. It is the basis on which the two sectors can exist and grow sustainably, and its responsible management is essential to guarantee access to aquatic foods for current and future generations.
FAO, through the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division and the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, has a mandate to support countries to conserve and sustainably use aquatic genetic resources for food security, and to ensure their fair and equitable access and benefit sharing.
Recent publications
Aquaculture development – 11. Guidelines for genetic management of stocking programmes for aquatic species
30/12/2025
Stocking programmes are carried out across the world, both in inland and in marine waters, for a wide range of aquatic species and for different goals. These include conservation, the creation or enhancement of fisheries, and the development or improvement of ecosystem services.
Aquaculture development – Guidelines for ex situ in vitro gene banking of aquatic genetic resources
08/01/2026
Genetic diversity is fundamental to a species’ ability to adapt, evolve, and survive over time, while also providing essential services to humankind.In the context of food and agriculture, this diversity results from both natural evolution and artificial selection through domestication and genetic improvement.
The State of the World's Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
04/12/2019
The conservation, sustainable use and development of aquatic genetic resources (AqGR) is critical to the future supply of fish. The State of the World’s Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is the first ever global assessment of these resources, with the scope of this first Report being limited to cultured AqGR and their wild relatives, within national jurisdiction.
Global Plan of Action for the Conservation, Sustainable Use and Development of Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
05/12/2022
This Global Plan of Action for the Conservation, Sustainable Use and Development of Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (GPA) was developed by FAO at the request of the members of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in response to the needs and challenges identified in the first global assessment of the status of Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (AqGR).
