October 2015: The Fisheries and Aquaculture Department of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) has launched a request to FAO members to submit country reports with relevant information regarding the state and management of farmed aquatic species and their wild relatives under national jurisdiction, for the preparation of the first report on the state of the world’s aquatic genetic resources for food and agriculture (GRFA).

The preparation of the report was requested by the fifteenth meeting of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA 15), held in January 2015, in order to support sustainable aquaculture around the world, which is expected to grow significantly to meet increasing global food demand.

The report will aim to enhance knowledge of aquatic GRFA by: complementing ongoing information gathering efforts; documenting patterns of exchange of aquatic GRFA; documenting the status and trends of aquatic GRFA and identifying drivers of change, technologies that enhance the contributions of aquatic GRFA to food security and relevant stakeholders; documenting the state of institutional capacity; identifying gaps and prioritizing needs and constraints with regard to the conservation and sustainable use of aquatic GRFA; and providing information on activities that contribute to the implementation of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

National Focal Points are asked to complete, by 31 December 2015, a questionnaire with sections on: the use and exchange of aquatic GRFA; drivers and trends in aquaculture; in situ and ex situ conservation; stakeholders in aquaculture, national policies; research, education, training and extension on aquatic GRFA; and international collaboration.

The first draft of the report on the state of the world’s aquatic GRFA is expected to be presented to CGRFA 16 in January 2017. [FAO Notification] [Questionnaire for the Preparation of Country Reports for the First State of the World’s Aquatic GRFA] [Report of CGRFA 15] [IISD-RS Coverage of CGRFA 15]