1 October, Rome – 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.

Harnessing the power of these genetic resources, instead of diluting or contaminating them, is essential to securing current and future supply of aquatic foods for the world's burgeoning population, which is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050.

FAO, through the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division and the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, has a mandate to halt the loss of genetic resources and to ensure their sustainable development for food security, ensuring fair and equitable access and benefit sharing.

To do so, FAO spearheaded the first ever global assessment of existing AqGR, published in 2019 and led the development of a comprehensive policy response in the form of the Global Plan of Action for the Conservation, Sustainable Use and Development of Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

"The Global Plan of Action is a key framework to guide Members and signals the will to safeguard the wealth of biodiversity for aquaculture so that current and future generations can benefit from it," said ITWG-AqGR Chair Belemane Semoli.

"We need sustainable aquaculture to fight hunger and alleviate poverty, and we cannot do so without preserving and effectively managing the genetic resources that make this sector viable," he added.

A key component of the implementation of the Global Plan of Action is the creation of national registries using FAO's Aquatic Genetic Resources Information System (AquaGRIS), which was launched just prior to the ITWG, on 17 September.  AquaGRIS is a global online database designed for Members to collect and analyse data on farmed types and their wild relatives in their respective countries.

The Fifth session of the ITWG-AqGR formulated a range of recommendations for FAO and its Members to advance the effective management of AqGR. 

"The recommendations made during this session demonstrate a clear commitment from Members to utilize AquaGRIS for a range of applications, including as a key data gathering tool for monitoring the status of AqGR and also as a basis for the next global assessment of AqGR due in 2029," commented Graham Mair, Senior Aquaculture Officer at FAO.

Members also recommended that FAO support capacity building by providing guidelines on key topics and training programmes, including an e-learning course, and by raising awareness about the Global Plan of Action and the benefits of its implementation.