In response to a growing demand for high-quality and internationally-comparable statistics, FAO develops, implements and promotes methods and standards to guide national data producers in generating and using sound statistics. In particular, the Organization is committed to provide national statistical systems with internationally recognized definitions, concepts and classifications as well as methodological guidance for the production of high quality statistics related to food and agriculture.
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Abstract: While diversified aquaculture could reduce both biological and financial risks, the private sector may lack incentives to diversify the species composition of aquaculture production because developing or adopting new species tends to be costly and risky. Conversely, concentrating on the most efficient species can benefit from economies of scale in both production and marketing. With ever-growing concerns over climate change, disease outbreaks, market fluctuations and other uncertainties, species diversification has become an increasingly prominent strategy for sustainable aquaculture development. Policy and planning on species diversification require a holistic, sector-wide perspective to assess the overall prospect of individually promising species that may not be entirely successful when competing for limited resources and markets. The historical experiences of species diversification in global aquaculture can provide guidance for the assessment. This paper develops a benchmarking system to examine species diversification patterns in around 200 countries for three decades to generate information and insights in support of evidence-based policy and planning in aquaculture development. The system uses “effective number of species” (ENS) as a diversity measure that is essentially equivalent to, yet more intuitive than, the widely used Shannon Index. A statistical model is established to estimate a benchmark ENS for each country and construct a benchmarking species diversification index (BSDI) to compare a country’s species diversification with global experiences. Key results are presented and discussed in the main text; and more comprehensive results are documented in Appendix II. The benchmarking system can be used in foresight analyses to help design or refine future production targets (including species composition) in policy and planning for aquaculture development; an example is provided in Appendix I to help practitioners better understand and utilize the system.
Lead authoring unit/office: Fisheries Division (NFI)
Abstract: In 2019, FAO conducted a workshop for the Pacific region to raise awareness on SDG 14.b and the important linkages to relevant regional and global frameworks, as well as to help strengthen capacities of member countries to collect and compile relevant data and information for reporting on SDG indicator 14.b.1. The workshop recommended that further guidance is needed to assist Pacific Island Member Countries to better understand and to consequently improve reporting on the SDG 14.b.1 indicator. The internationally agreed methodology for reporting on SDG indicator 14.b.1 is based on countries’ responses to three questions found in the online FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) survey. The guidance document therefore provides detailed, practical guidance in the context of the Pacific, on the process for responding to the three FAO CCRF survey questions relating to SDG indicator 14.b.1, highlighting important links to relevant information including Pacific regional frameworks on coastal fisheries.
Lead authoring unit/office: Fisheries Division (NFI)
Abstract: These guidelines illustrate recommendations for good practices on data collection in Eastern European inland fisheries, and in particular the Western Balkan region, based on the methodologies and approaches used in countries throughout Europe and from FAO experience of inland fisheries in other regions. They provide guidance on the options available to inland fishery managers based on particular circumstances i.e. commercial fishing or recreational use, and they are especially relevant for assisting the economies-in transition in Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia. These guidelines are not an overarching work on inland fisheries management, nor do they provide advice on the environmental aspects or competing uses of inland water bodies. They focus on issues of data collection to support fishery managers whether they be government agencies, fishers or angler associations co-responsible for the management of inland resources in European rivers and lakes.
Lead authoring unit/office: Fisheries Division (NFI)
Abstract: This document reflects the latest reference metadata information available on SDG-indicator 14.4.1 "Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels". Last updated: February 2021.
Lead authoring unit/office: FAO
Abstract: This document reflects the latest reference metadata information available on SDG-indicator 14.6.1 "Progress by countries in the degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing". Last updated: February 2021.
Lead authoring unit/office: FAO
Abstract: This document reflects the latest reference metadata information available on SDG-indicator 14.7.1 "Sustainable fisheries as a percentage of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries". Last updated: February 2021.
Lead authoring unit/office: FAO
Abstract: This document reflects the latest reference metadata information available on SDG-indicator 14.b 1 "Degree of application of a legal / regulatory / policy /institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small-scale fisheries". Last updated: February 2021.
Lead authoring unit/office: FAO
Abstract: The CWP Handbook covers the concepts, definitions, classifications and data exchange protocols – and not least the codes as applied to fishery statistics globally. Many of these concepts and definitions are applied in a wider context, but the user is advised to check the validity of such applications. The handbook indicates the principles applied by the international agencies and no attempt has been made to include details of national systems, many of which, having been developed for specific national purposes, may differ from those employed internationally.
Lead authoring unit/office: Fisheries Division (NFI)
Abstract: This course focuses on SDG Indicator 14.4.1 - Fish stocks sustainability: “Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels”. It introduces basic fisheries concepts and definitions, illustrates some technical aspects of classical and data-limited stock assessment and provides detailed guidance on process and tools for the analysis and reporting of the Indicator.
Lead authoring unit/office: FAO
Abstract: This publication provides guidance for a statistical office to use when forming an MSF. The goals of this document are to (1) describe a process for building, maintaining and using MSFs; (2) discuss interrelations among survey objectives, core data elements, construction of sampling frames, estimation, and archival of results; and (3) offer guidance for using multiple sources of information. The statistical office will need to consider how the directives presented in this document apply to a particular situation. When deciding on an MSF approach, the statistical office should consider the ultimate uses of the collected data and the desired estimates.
Lead authoring unit/office: Statistics Division (ESS)
