Aquatic genetic resources news | FAO updates on biodiversity
1 October 2024
The Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITWG-AqGR) gathered for its Fifth Session at FAO Headquarters from 18-20 September.
A total of 45 participants from 34 countries reviewed progress made since the Fourth Session and made recommendations to shape FAO's work going forward in support of Members' efforts to conserve, sustainably manage and develop their aquatic genetic resources for aquaculture.
Aquatic genetic resources (AqGR) include DNA, genes, chromosomes, tissues, gametes, embryos and other early life history stages as well as individuals, farmed types, stocks, and communities of organisms of actual or potential value for food and agriculture – from seaweed to crustaceans, from molluscs to fish, covering around 700 species in total.
18 September 2024
On land as in water, there can be no food security without biodiversity: it allows plants and animals to reproduce and grow, adapt to natural and human-induced impacts, resist diseases and parasites, and continue to evolve.
Aquatic biodiversity is the basis on which aquaculture can exist and grow sustainably. It determines the adaptability and resilience of species to changing environments and is the foundation for the genetic improvement of farmed species. The effective management of aquatic genetic resources is therefore vital to secure future supplies of aquatic food in a sustainable way.
One key enabler to make this happen is AquaGRIS, a public online database of farmed aquatic species and their wild relatives. While similar online inventories exist for livestock and terrestrial plants, none had yet been developed for aquaculture.