Promoting artisanal fishing and marine fishing, renewing the Aquaculture Network for the Americas and strengthening the fight against illegal fishing are the three priorities for the period 2018-2019 that the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean set during the XV Meeting of the Commission on Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture for Latin America and the Caribbean (COPESCAALC).
Those priorities were defined on the basis that the area still has enormous untapped potential to boost its production and improve the food security of millions of people.
The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean generate 11 percent of world aquaculture and fisheries production, according to FAO. However, in the region only 9.5 kg of fish per person per year are eaten on average, less than half the world consumption, which is around 21 kg.
‘Promoting the sustainable development of this sector will increase the availability of food of high nutritional value and improve the lives of families dedicated to their production’, explained Alejandro Flores, Fisheries and Aquaculture Officer of FAO during the COPESCAALC meeting held In Panama.
FAO highlights that artisanal fishing contributes significantly to the nutrition of thousands of rural and indigenous coastal families. In addition to producing fish and other products, it is a key source of self-employment for thousands of people.
In the same way, marine fishing has had an important growth in recent years.
Recognizing its importance, COPESCAALC – made up of institutions from the fishing sector of each country and traditionally dedicated to fishing in inland waters – has decided to add to its mandate the task of promoting marine fisheries and artisanal or small-scale fishing. In this way, from now on, this body will be called the Small Scale, Artisanal and Aquaculture Fisheries Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.
In terms of aquaculture, this activity is experiencing sustained growth in the region. In 2015, the total volume of its production was 2.67 million tonnes and represented 3.8 percent of world aquaculture production.
Chile, Brazil, Ecuador and Mexico are the main aquaculture producers in Latin America and the Caribbean, and together they account for 86 percent of regional production.
To promote the sustainable growth of this sector, the countries of the region created The Aquaculture Network for the Americas, which establishes a cooperation mechanism to exchange information, practices and strategies.
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