Towards a new vision for global fisheries and aquaculture

October saw the virtual event “The future of our oceans: Towards a new vision for global fisheries and aquaculture” by the European Parliament Intergroup on “Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development” and the European Parliamentary Alliance against Hunger and Malnutrition. The event was chaired by MEP and Member of the Alliance Pierre Karleskind and featured a keynote address by Manuel Barange, Director of FAO’s Fisheries Division, followed by a panel discussion with representatives from the European Commission, Europêche, the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers, and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Mr Karleskind delivered powerful welcoming remarks in which he stressed that oceans and fisheries are the first victims of climate change. Building on FAO’s State of the World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020 publication, he said that sustainability is essential to addressing and adapting to climate change and that economic viability, social inclusiveness and environmentally friendly practices in the fisheries and aquaculture sector should go hand in hand. “Fisheries and aquaculture have an important role to play as part of the effort to build resilient food systems and ensure food security for all” he added. He further emphasized the importance of reinforcing the fisheries and aquaculture dimension in the European Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy.

During his comments, Mr Barange emphasized the importance of aquaculture and fisheries consumption for food security and for improving global nutrition. ”Fish are among the most traded food commodities in the world and represent a significant income generator for developing countries, with 59,5 million people involved in the primary sector of fish and aquaculture,” he said. However, one third of fish stocks are currently overfished. Mr Barange underscored the urgency of sustainable management of fisheries, and implementing and scaling up transformative adaptations to climate change.”A new narrative for fisheries and aquaculture, a “blue transformation”, which can reconcile the Global North sustainability narrative with the Global South food security priorities, is needed” he said.

You can read more on FAO’s work on Fisheries and Aquaculture here.