Scoop World 12th May 2018
Asia-Pacific fisheries focus on resilience and sustainable blue growth
11/05/2018 Cebu, Philippines – Members of the Asia-Pacific Fisheries Commission (APFIC) have vowed to scale up collective efforts to ensure that fisheries and aquaculture are managed in a responsible and sustainable manner, the commission announced today at its 35th Session, which has convened in Cebu, the Philippines.
As a region, Asia and the Pacific produces most of the world’s fish. The region currently contributes over 55 percent of global capture fisheries and 90 percent of its aquaculture. Resilient blue growth of capture fisheries and aquaculture in the region is of great importance to food security, nutrition, livelihood development and overall economic and social development in many countries of Asia and the Pacific and achievement of some important SDG Goals in the 2030 Agenda.
As demand for both capture fisheries and aquaculture rises, the industries will need to rely on innovations in a number of areas. They will also need to become more resilient to the effects of climate change on fish stocks and aquaculture operation. FAO’s Regional Initiative on Blue Growth offers some solutions and a way forward, and the Commission will examine these during the days ahead. The 35th APFIC Session will review a draft six-year APFIC Strategy (2018-2023) prepared by the Secretariat for eventual revisions and endorsement.