THE United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) endorsed a set of technical guidelines aimed at promoting responsible international trade in fish and fishery products.

The guidelines were endorsed by members attending the 11th session of FAO’s Subcommittee on Fish Trade in Germany.

The voluntary guidelines are intended to help countries ensure that “international trade in fish and fishery products do not compromise the sustainable development of fisheries and responsible utilization of living aquatic resources.”

“These guidelines, which offer advice on how to implement the trade-related provisions in the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, will help countries maximize the poverty reduction, food security and nutrition benefits of fish trade while minimizing potential negative aspects,” said Grimur Valdimarsson, director of FAO’s Fish Producs and Industries Division.

FAO also called on governments to take a number of steps, including adopting conservation and management measures for long-term conservation and sustainable use of aquatic resources, as a necessary foundation for sustainable fish trade; developing indicators for measuring the biological, economic and social sustainability of fisheries, and establishing catch documentation and certification schemes to track seafood and fish products from point of capture or production to final destination.

The UN unit also asked governments to target financial and technical assistance to developing countries to strengthen their capacity for fisheries management and responsible trade practices and conduct periodic reviews of laws and regulations related to the international trade in fish products to determine if the reasons for their original creation continue to exist.

FAO noted that the value of world exports of fish and fish products climbed to a record high of $92 billion in 2007, with the proportion of world fish production (145 million tons) that is traded internationally now representing 38 percent of the total, or 55 million tons.

Net export revenues from fish trade, FAO said, currently run around $25 billion, translating into more jobs, better incomes and increased government revenues for the poor.

Valdimarsson, however, noted that fish trade can also pose some risks.

“Increased demand for fish to supply international markets can sometimes result in excessive fishing pressure, potentially leading to the overexploitation and wasteful use of some fish stocks and thereby exacerbating the consequences of ineffective fisheries management regimes.               

This can, in turn, impact on food security, especially where there is a high dependence on fish in the diet,” said Valdimarsson.

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FAO endorses guidelines for responsible fish trade

THE United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) endorsed a set of technical guidelines aimed at promoting responsible international trade in fish and fishery products.

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