Report Of The Expert Workshop On Incorporating Information On Wild Relatives Of Aquaculture Species Into An Information System For Aquatic Genetic Resources

This report summarizes the proceedings and outcomes of the Expert Workshop on “Incorporating information on wild relatives of aquaculture species into an information system for aquatic genetic resources” held from 2 to 3 August 2022. The workshop aimed to discuss the expansion of the FAO Aquatic Genetic Resources Information System (AquaGRIS) in order to also include information on wild relatives (i.e. wild stocks) of aquaculture species. AquaGRIS, the system being developed by the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, will help countries and stakeholders to inventory national aquatic genetic resources (AqGR) used for aquaculture and monitor the status of their management.

The conservation, sustainable use and development of aquatic genetic resources (AqGR) is critical to the future supply of fish. The State of the World’s Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is the first ever global assessment of these resources, with the scope of this first Report being limited to cultured AqGR and their wild relatives, within national jurisdiction. The Report draws on 92 reports from FAO member countries and five specially commissioned thematic background studies. The reporting countries are responsible for 96 percent of global aquaculture production. The Report sets the context with a review of the state of world’s aquaculture and fisheries and includes overviews of the uses and exchanges of AqGR, the drivers and trends impacting AqGR and the extent of ex situ and in situ conservation efforts. The Report also investigates the roles of stakeholders in AqGR and the levels of activity in research, education, training and extension, and reviews national policies and the levels of regional and international cooperation on AqGR. Finally, needs and challenges are assessed in the context of the findings from the data collected from the countries. The Report represents a snapshot of the present status of AqGR and forms a valuable technical reference document, particularly where it presents standardized key terminology and concepts.

FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Proceedings These proceedings, from a workshop convened by FAO and World Fisheries Trust (Canada), summarize diversification successes and opportunities in all major world regions, and identify general principles to guide diversification in aquaculture.The document includes an assessment of main strategies and future steps, not only in terms of purely economic costs but also in development costs, including evaluation and mitigation of environmental and social impacts and establishment of species-specific biosecurity frameworks.

This report summarizes the proceedings and outcomes of the “Regional Workshop for Europe and Central Asia on the Development of a Global Information System for Farmed Types of Aquatic Genetic Resources (incorporating a review of strategic priorities for a Global Plan of Action)” held from 5 to 8 October 2020. The final wrap-up session was held on 15 October 2020. This workshop, supported financially by the Government of Germany, was the fourth in a series of regional workshops held to generate feedback on the Registry of Farmed Types of Aquatic Genetic Resources (Registry) being developed by FAO in response to the findings of the first report on The State of the World’s Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (SoW-AqGR) prepared under the guidance of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Commission) and launched by FAO in 2019. As requested by the Commission, the workshop also sought feedback on an outline of a Global Plan of Action for Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (GPA), as requested by the Commission. The workshop was held online over a period of five days, with sessions lasting between 60 and 120 minutes.The workshop was attended by National Focal Points for Aquatic Genetic Resources from Europe and Central Asia, officials from ministries, governmental organizations, research institutions and by representatives of regional aquaculture organizations. The objectives of the workshop were to promote standardized use of nomenclature and terminology in the description and categorization of aquatic genetic resources (AqGR), especially below the level of species (i.e. farmed types), to identify priority regional stakeholders who would benefit from and could contribute to an information system, such as the Registry, to evaluate the key elements of the prototype Registry using regionally relevant species and their farmed types and to review the strategic priorities and propose concrete activities under each of the four Priority Areas of the GPA.

This report summarizes the proceedings and outcomes of the Regional Workshop for the Near East on the “Development of a Global Information System of Farmed Types of Aquatic Genetic Resources (Incorporating a review of strategic priorities for a Global Plan of Action)” held from 7 to 8 December 2020. The objectives of the workshop were to promote standardized use of nomenclature and terminology in the description and categorization of aquatic genetic resources (AqGR), especially below the level of species (i.e. farmed types), to identify priority regional stakeholders who would benefit from and could contribute to an information system, such as the Registry, to evaluate the key elements of the prototype Registry using regionally relevant species and their farmed types, and to review the strategic priorities and propose concrete activities under each of the four Priority Areas of the GPA. The workshop sessions were attended by National Focal Points for Aquatic Genetic Resources from the Near East, officials from ministries and research institutions. Participants identified government resource managers, academia and researchers as the principal stakeholders and beneficiaries of the Registry.

This report summarizes the proceedings and outcomes of the “Regional Workshop for Asia and the Pacific on the Development of a Global Information System for Farmed Types of Aquatic Genetic Resources (incorporating a review of strategic priorities for a Global Plan of Action)” held from 8 to 12 June 2020. The final wrap-up session was held on 22 June 2020. This workshop, supported financially by the Government of Germany, was the second in a series of regional workshops held to generate feedback on the Registry of Farmed Types of Aquatic Genetic Resources (Registry) being developed by FAO in response to the findings of the first report on The State of the World’s Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (SoW-AqGR) prepared under the guidance of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Commission) and launched by FAO in 2019. As requested by the Commission, the workshop also sought feedback on an outline of a Global Plan of Action for Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (GPA. The workshop was originally planned to be held face to face in early 2020 but was eventually cancelled due to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Regular reporting and monitoring of fishery and aquaculture production using genetic information, i.e. using information on stocks, breeds, monosex groups, polyploids, products of modern biotechnology and hybrids, would allow aquaculturists to assess which breeds or strains could be most useful for production, and help fishery managers better manage and trace products from capture fisheries. Genetic information would be useful to both aquaculturists and fishery managers in assessing which stocks are under threat or endangered and in traceability requirements for the origin and handling of aquatic food products. However, the capacity and information requirements for incorporating genetic information into national and global statistics are significant and, in many cases, currently prohibitive. A key source of information for this paper was the reports currently being submitted to the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department by countries as part of the process to produce the first report on The State of the World’s Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (SoW AqGR). Through this country-driven process, FAO is receiving information on stocks, varieties, strains and other farmed types that are currently being used in aquaculture and fisheries or that are being actively researched for future use. The country reports will further attempt to include relevant policies and constraints relating to the collection and monitoring of genetic data.