FAO's Report on The State of the World's Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (SoW-AqGR) is the first ever global assessment of the status of aquatic genetic resources for food and agriculture (AqGR).
The development of the SoW-AqGR was initiated in response to a call from the members of the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture to respond to the urgent need to build global knowledge and raise awareness on the main needs and challenges regarding the conservation, sustainable use and development of AqGR. This global assessment is specifically focused on farmed aquatic species and their wild relatives within national jurisdiction.
In the preparation of the SoW-AqGR, FAO invited countries to nominate National Focal Points with the role of coordinating the gathering of information, preparing and submitting their country reports. The country reports are based on the Questionnaire for the Preparation of Country Reports. Overall 92 countries responded to the questionnaire and submitted their information. These responding countries encompass over 96 percent of global aquaculture production and over 80 percent of global capture fisheries production and include the top 11 major aquaculture producing countries.