Launch of the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022
by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
19/11/2021
Launch of the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022
Address
By
Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
As prepared
19 November 2021
Excellences,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear Colleagues,
1. Our global agri-food systems face complex challenges as they transform to address hunger, malnutrition, degraded ecosystems and the impacts of the climate crisis.
2. Yet, this transformation also presents many opportunities.
3. Including through the fisheries and aquaculture.
4. Every day millions of people harvest fish – by boat, by foot, with nets, with cages, in inland waters and on the ocean.
5. Some of it is for direct consumption locally, but most of their harvests provide the rest of the world with a wide variety of fish and aquatic plants that contribute to nutritious and healthy diets.
6. The majority of these women and men - including many young and indigenous peoples - operate in the highly diverse small-scale artisanal sub-sector.
7. Small-scale artisanal fishers, fish farmers and fish workers hold enormous potential to promote transformative changes in production, processing, distribution and consumer patters of fish and aquatic products,
8. And they also contribute to healthy and diverse diets, livelihoods, community prosperity and traditional culture.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
9. For this reason, FAO is pleased to launch the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022.
10. An international year which has an important vision:
11. A vision of a world in which small-scale artisanal fishers, fish farmers and fish workers are fully recognized and empowered to play a key role towards better agri-food systems, poverty eradication, rural development and improvement of human well-being,
12. Through the responsible and sustainable use of fisheries and aquaculture resources.
13. For better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all – leaving no one behind.
14. As the lead agency for this international year, FAO will highlight the importance of small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture for the transformation to MORE efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable agri-food systems.
15. The Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication,
16. Together with the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the COFI Declaration for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, will provide insights and guidance for the year-long activities.
17. During the year, FAO will focus on the importance of working hand-in-hand with small-scale fisheries and aquaculture actors,
18. To ensure they have a voice on the global stage and across the agri-food systems value chains.
19. To this end, the UN Decade of Family Farming also provides an important framework.
Dear Colleagues,
20. The Global Action Plan for the International Year will further support the contribution of small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs.
21. Let us remember small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture are small in scale, but big in value!
22. I look forward to a successful international year.
23. Thank you.