11 February 2014: The Fisheries and Aquaculture Department of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) has released a technical paper, titled ‘Policy and governance in aquaculture: lessons learned and way forward,’ which summarizes some of the issues facing general aquaculture governance, current best practices and potential challenges for the future.

The paper argues that the goal of aquaculture governance is sustainability, which requires that ecological and human well-being be reconciled. For the sustainable development of the industry, it suggests four governance principles, namely accountability, effectiveness and efficiency of governments, equity and predictability of the rule of law.

The paper recommends that: these four principles guide the administration, legislative and regulatory framework of aquaculture; and that non-governmental stakeholders, such as communities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and producers be involved in the governance of the industry.

The paper concludes with an examination of possible future governance challenges. [Publication: Policy and Governance in Aquaculture: Lessons Learned and Way Forward]