In 2008, FAO initiated a process to implement a questionnaire as a self-assessment tool for countries’ performance regarding compliance with Articles 9 to 11 related to Aquaculture in the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF Aquaculture). Dr. Doris Soto Benavides, currently the Principal Researcher at the Interdisciplinary Center for Aquaculture Research (INCAR), supported the technical development of this process and tool while serving as a senior Aquaculture officer at FAO, Rome. Consequently, the tool has been biennially applied since 2013.
In order to meet the FAO requirements, a consultation was organized by CIRDAP with the aim of enhancing and aligning the CCRF aquaculture questionnaire with the GSA. Subsequently, a workshop was held in Bangkok, Thailand, from May 8 to 10, with the participation of experts in sustainable aquaculture from various regions. Dr. Doris Soto from INCAR and Marisol Álvarez, Technical Officer from the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SUBPESCA), Chile, both attended the workshop as experts. The experts at this meeting agreed that aquaculture is playing a crucial role in global food production, with a comparatively smaller footprint than other food sectors. Therefore, it is necessary and urgent to promote its more sustainable development through good practices, innovation, and better sector planning, with attention to ecosystem carrying capacities and consideration of social aspects with equity, from local to national and global levels
Sources:
[1] https://www.fao.org/about/meetings/cofi-sub-committee-on-aquaculture/en/
[2] https://cirdap.org/2024/05/13/workshop-on-revisions-to-the-fao-code-of-conduct-for-responsible-fisheries-aquaculture-questionnaire/
