The 10th session of the Committee of Fisheries (COFI) Sub-Committee on Aquaculture came to end on the 28th of August, 2019 in Trondheim, Norway and the importance of aquaculture was thoroughly discussed on the role it plays in helping to provide protein for the world’s growing population.
Fiji was represented by the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Fisheries, Mr. Craig Strong who in his country paper stated that the Fijian Government has a very clear vision for its three key fisheries one of them being the Aquaculture Fishery.
“Aquaculture is clearly articulated in our National Development Plan as a sector which will drive food security, economic development and climate change adaptation. Our strategy for aquaculture is simply to ‘Grow Rapidly’,” said Mr Strong.
“Over the past two days we have had an opportunity to forge our commitment as one voice in sustaining, managing and advancing aquaculture. In this light, I think it is important that we all pause and reflect on the task at hand and the fact that the decisions we make and programs we endorse have a very real impact on our future generations.”
“Fiji therefore calls for a greater emphasis on climate change and how aquaculture and its associated science, methodologies and technologies can be used as an adaptation strategy to climate change for Small Island developing states,” added Mr Strong.
“We appreciate the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) efforts in assisting countries in the Pacific Island region in building capacities on aquatic animal health (AAH).”
He added that in January 2017, the FAO facilitated in Fiji a national workshop on aquatic biosecurity and aquatic animal health strategy. This workshop was a collaboration between JICA and the University of the South Pacific School of Marine Studies.
“The workshop achieved critical outcomes and these included a SWOT Analysis on the assessment of capacities on the AAH, a draft structure of the elements of a national strategy on aquatic animal health was prepared including a draft national Pathogen List,” explained Mr Strong.
Mr Strong went on to say that Fiji fully supports the proposed development of the long term programme on aquaculture biosecurity.
“In Fiji and the Pacific, we are on the front lines in the battle against climate change. Ocean acidification, incidents of coral bleaching and fish kills are real and have happened. We call for ambitious action to complement ambitious planning. Fiji therefore calls for greater emphasis on climate change adaptation through robust biosecurity and expresses its desire to partner in this initiative.”
Mr Matthias Halwart, Secretary of the Aquaculture and Fisheries Branch of the FAO said that a few weeks ago, the state of food security and nutrition in the world was released and it’s confirmed that hunger and malnutrition is on the rise again.
“It is crucial for agencies such as the FAO to act now particularly in the fields of fisheries and aquaculture as fish provide so many benefits in the fight against hunger and malnutrition,” said Mr Halwart.
The 140 delegates present from around 70 countries also learnt about the spectacular growth of aquaculture over the last few decades.
Now there are more than 550 aquatic species cultured globally, amounting to nearly 112 tonnes, up 3.5 per cent year on year, reaching a value of $250 billion.
It was also noted by FAO that aquaculture outstrips wild-harvests of all major species groups- accounting for 97 percent of seaweeds, 81 percent of freshwater fish, 55 percent of crustaceans, 73 percent of molluscs- other than marine finfish, of which only 4.5 percent are currently from farmed sources.
Mr Halwart also said that as capture fisheries reach the limit of their biological productivity, aquaculture will continue to play an important role in meeting the needs for fish and fish products for an ever increasing human population.
Fiji was also nominated as Vice Chair of the 11th Session of the COFI Subcommittee on Aquaculture to be hosted by Mexico whom will also be Chairing the session in 2021.
Permanent Secretary for Fisheries Craig Strong said it was a great result to have Fiji nominated and that the nomination will mean great visibility and connectivity for Fiji as we drive our Aquaculture agenda.