NACA, an intergovernmental organization of 18 member states, devoted to sustainable development of aquaculture in the Asia Pacific region, would like to place on record its appreciation to the HLPE for developing an objective and focused document. The expert committee has endeavoured to cover almost all critical areas of direct concern and relevance to the NACA member states. NACA organization is therefore pleased to strongly endorse the report. The well-articulated sections on Gender and Governance add considerable value to the report.
Some points the HLPE may wish to consider in finalizing the draft:
- On Supply side HLPE should consider highlighting the importance of utilizing public water bodies (village tanks and lakes), irrigation water holding systems, inland reservoirs, for increasing fish production through Culture Based Fisheries (CBF) and community management systems. The role of women self-help groups in enhancing the availability of affordable fish at community level.
- The HLPE should consider a special section on scenario mapping of “Demand for fish” and most likely sources of supply of fish (and consequent deficits, if any) – globally and regionally (under various realistic context and circumstances).
- In the introduction section, it is better to remove the “critique” on bio-fortification. This will probably dilute the main message of HLPE and will most certainly lead to unnecessary and unproductive debate between bio-fortification vis-à-vis direct nutrition supplementation (by fish and vegetables). Similarly, again for the same reasons, the HLPE may consider down playing the thesis advocated by “doomsday prophets” in the section on “Fisheries Crisis”. Instead, the HLPE may consider including early on the significant positive messages which comes so late in the report in the “reflections section”.
- The report recognizes the gradual shift in focus from small scale subsistence aquaculture to SMEs and its role in food security and nutrition. Enabling mechanisms for this shift may be highlighted, including mechanisms to responsibly address the challenges of trade requirements (and other challenges already articulated in the report)
- The HLPE should consider a section on “immediate productive interventions” needed to mainstream fish in national and international FSN programs; most productive (high impact) investment opportunities for donor agencies and national policy makers.
- As already pointed out by others, there is a need to highlight strengthening and enhancing the effectiveness of organizations (such as NACA) that are devoted to the cause of small-scale fish farmers including women entrepreneurs.
- The looming threat of climate change on fisheries and aquaculture including adaptation and mitigation measures needs to be highlighted.
Ambekar E. Eknath
Director General
Network of Aquaculture Centers in Asia-Pacific (NACA)
Suraswadi Building; Kasetsart University Campus,
Bangkok, Thailand
Ambekar Eknath