Sustainable Development For Resilient Blue Growth Of Fisheries And Aquaculture

This is the report of the Seventh Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission (APFIC) Regional Consultative Forum Meeting (RCFM) on Sustainable Development for Resilient Blue Growth of Fisheries and Aquaculture. The meeting was convened in Cebu, Philippines from 7 May to 9 May 2018 and was attended by 80 participants from 16 countries, together with representatives from ten regional and international partner organizations and projects. The key conclusions and recommendations endorsed by the Seventh RCFM are summarized as: (1) The RCFM recognized the great advances in the four thematic areas pertaining to sustainable and resilient fisheries and aquaculture for blue growth in the region; (2) There are a number of remaining and emerging challenges to the sustainability and resilience of fisheries and aquaculture sector; (3) There remains a great need in many countries for reinforced legal frameworks and guiding policies to ensure a human rights-based and environmentally friendly development of the region’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors in line with the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries (SSF Guidelines) and the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF); and (4) More targeted disaster risk management and climate change strategies and technologies for the sector are needed in several countries. The RCFM considered the reviews of regional fisheries and aquaculture, presentations by member countries and regional organizations, reports of action plans of APFIC regional consultative workshops and the major issues outlined in the agenda and developed a report and recommendations to inform the Thirty-fifth APFIC Session.

FAO Fisheries and aquaculture circulars The Blue Growth Initiative supports productive, responsible and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture through governance and management of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems, trade and marketing of fish and fisheries products, aquatic biodiversity and knowledge sharing.

Blue Growth and Blue Economy in the Context of Development Policies and Priorities in Malaysia highlights the significance of introducing ecological perspectives to seafood production and explains the contribution of this sector to sustainable development goals. Structured in five chapters, the book explains the relevance of harmonizing the three interconnected elements: economic growth, environmental compatibility, and social inclusion in seafood security. Chapter 2 deals with the blue growth and blue economy perspectives, Chapters 3 and 4 cover the current drivers of blue growth and emerging areas of the blue economy. Chapter 5 discusses the significance of higher education in seafood security and explains how a ‘systems approach’ can help in making sense of scientific knowledge and capacity building for addressing some of the most critical issues facing the world. Chapter 6 sheds light on the matters related to gender equity in blue growth. There are radical ideas in this book that require bold policy decisions for more applied and problem-solving research, giving due credence to scientific advice in decision-making, graduate employment, the imperatives of aligning national development priorities with the global development goals.

For small-scale fisheries around the world, the Blue Growth and Blue Economy initiatives may provide sustainable development, but only insofar as they align with the global consensus enshrined in the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication. If states do nothing to fulfill the promises they made when they endorsed these guidelines in 2014, the Blue Economy will come at a loss for small-scale fisheries and further their marginalization in the ocean economy. Under the umbrella of Blue Justice, this book demonstrates that these risks are real and must be considered as states implement their sustainable ocean development plans. These are human rights issues, which are embedded into governance principles and institutions and which make a difference for small-scale fisheries people in their daily lives. In stressing the importance of policies and institutions that build on the experiences of small-scale fisheries people in the contexts in which they operate, this book draws on case studies of small-scale fisheries from countries on all continents to clarify what Blue Justice entails for small-scale fisheries and make suggestions for real change. “Through the Blue Justice paradigm, this book flags the relevance of recognizing the potential impact that different factors, including the Blue Economy approach, could bring to fishing communities, their livelihoods, cultural traditions, and other potential multidimensional conflicts. Vulnerability in fishing communities can increase and inequalities can be reinforced at different levels if individuals and community capabilities are not strengthened... A first of its kind, not to be missed, this book is informative, purposeful, and pertinent in an era of change”. Silvia Salas, CINVESTAV, Marine Resources Department, Mérida, Mexico "The studies reveal that Blue Justice is a ‘governability’ issue, which requires establishing ‘right’ institutions, that are transdisciplinary (integrated), participatory, and holistic. It is implicit from these writings that the SSF Guidelines and Blue Growth initiatives do not form two different discourses, and that the implementation of the former would resolve many of the justice issues caused by the latter, in favor of small-scale fisheries and their communities". Oscar Amarasinghe, Professor & Chancellor, Ocean University of Sri Lanka and President, Sri Lanka Forum for Small Scale Fisheries (SLFSSF)

This publication presents FAO's Blue Growth Initiative, showing how fisheries and aquaculture contribute to the 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This issue of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture aims to provide objective, reliable and up-to- ate data and information to a wide range of readers – policy-makers, managers, scientists, stakeholders and indeed all those interested in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. As always, the scope is global and the topics many and varied. This edition uses the latest official statistics on fisheries and aquaculture to present a global analysis of trends in fish stocks, production, processing, utilization, trade and consumption. It also reports on the status of the world’s fishing fleets and analyses the make-up of human engagement in the sector. Twenty years on from the introduction of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Conduct, and now with the recently adopted Sustainable Development Goals, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Paris Agreement, and the Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines, the focus on governance and policy has never been greater. This edition covers recent developments as they relate to fisheries and aquaculture, and reports, inter alia, on the Common Oceans ABNJ Program, FAO’s Blue Growth Initiative and efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. It also discusses issues such as valuing inland fisheries, cutting bycatch and promoting decent work. Other topics highlighted include: nutrition; aquatic invasive alien species; responsible inland fisheries; resilience in fisheries and aquaculture; and governance of tenure and user rights.

This background note reviews current trends and projections of fish and seafood trade, and recent work undertaken to support implementation of the trade related activities of SDG 14, with a focus on the work of UNCTAD, FAO and UNEP. It flags the main issues encountered and sets the scene for the discussions of the Forum. It draws on the complementary experiences and mandates of UNCTAD, FAO and UNEPt to make recommendations to key stakeholders and propose innovative approaches and tools around the oceans

This report explores the alignment of aquaculture with the 2030 agenda's goals and targets, suggesting that existing guidance needs strengthening in cross-cutting areas - such as poverty alleviation and resource use efficiency.