The first GLOBEFISH Meet the Expert interview is with Mr. Audun Lem, Deputy Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division of FAO.

During the interview, Mr. Lem addressed the importance of sustainable trade of fisheries and aquaculture products as a genuine market access issue. He also highlighted the relevance of the participation of small-scale fisheries and fishing communities in production and trade. Moreover, FAO’s Deputy Director analyzed the importance of information in accessing markets and an increase of information demand by consumers about the products they consume. Mr. Lem strongly emphasized the innovation brought by the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, approved in 1995 by FAO Members, mentioning that it was an international instrument ahead of its time. Finally, Mr. Lem also elaborated on how FAO can support sustainable production and trade and the impacts of COVID-19 on the markets, with associated challenges and opportunities.

Audun has been with FAO for 25 years, where he is currently the Deputy Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division. Audun was for many years also the Secretary of FAO’s Sub-Committee on Fish Trade (COFI:FT), the main international body for discussion and recommendations on trade and market issues in the sector, as well as the Coordinator of the GLOBEFISH project.

His thematic work areas include aquaculture policy development and management, commodity price trends and price indexes, policy issues related to international trade and market access, market-based instruments, social responsibility, certification, traceability, trade and food security, gender issues, and domestic and regional market development.

Before joining FAO, he worked as an independent agribusiness consultant, project manager at Norway’s Embassy in Italy, and financial analyst on the Oslo Stock Exchange.

Audun has a Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences from the Sea Fisheries Institute in Poland, a Master’s in Business Administration from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the Norwegian School of Economics.