ISSUE FOCUS 26 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE August 2024 “For us, more sustainable seafood means a world with three things: Firstly, preserving natural resources through the implementation of responsible fisheries and aquaculture practices; secondly, greater inclusivity and access to resources and markets; and third, more economic opportunity, community empowerment, and less food insecurity.” The fisheries and aquaculture sectors are rightfully recognised for their crucial role in food production and global food security. The latest "State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture" (SOFIA) report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) shows that in 2022, these sectors hit a record high, producing 223.2 million tonnes of food worth $472 billion. The report also notes that in 2021, people around the world consumed 162.5 million tonnes of aquatic animal foods, with an average annual growth of 3% since 1961, when only 28 million tonnes were consumed. Alongside being essential sources of food and nutrition, fisheries and aquaculture are major contributors to livelihoods. Globally, almost 62 million people are employed by these sectors, mostly in small-scale operations. That is already a vast number, but when factoring in the entire blue food value chain, subsistence fishers and their dependents, it is estimated some 600 million people rely on fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihoods, with a massive 500 million in small-scale fisheries. Unfortunately, and despite significant achievements in recent times, seafood production – whether it is wild-caught or farmed – is not without its issues. Noting it still faces major challenges from climate change and disasters, water scarcity, pollution, biodiversity loss, and other anthropogenic impacts, FAO urges accelerated efforts to ensure 100% of fishery stocks are placed under effective management – to reverse unsustainable practices, combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and to reduce overfishing. On the aquaculture side, environmental impacts need to be minimised alongside enhanced animal health and food safety, and all this needs to be achieved while improving yields and supporting livelihoods, especially within vulnerable communities and populations. Nevertheless, there’s good reason for optimism, particularly with the increased mobilisation of industry leaders and supply chains. The Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) is a multi-stakeholder partnership focused on promoting improvement, problem solving, and cooperation in wild-capture seafood and aquaculture supply chains. As a public-private network of NGOs, governments, and organisations, we work closely with the FAO toward the same goal: to preserve oceans for future generations and push for more sustainable seafood for FIVE STEPS TO SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD Øyvind Ihle Chief Executive Officer Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI)
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