Under the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Committee on Fisheries (COFI), the Sub-Committee on Aquaculture met from 7-11 August 2003 in Trondheim, Norway to improve the framework for the sustainable development of the world’s aquaculture sector.

During the meeting, representatives from FAO member countries addressed a range of issues, including the environmental impacts of shrimp-farming, the use of antibiotics by aquaculture, the introduction of non-native fish species into new regions, harmonization of trade standards, and the need for better monitoring of product safety. At the conclusion of the meeting, delegates agreed that the FAO will develop detailed guidelines for the responsible management of fish farms aimed at both improving the quality of fish farmed and at reducing the negative environmental impacts of fish farming. A reference compendium of aquaculture-related legislation will also be produced. Other activities that were highlighted for FAO action, inter alia: developing capacity-building programmes that will help governments strengthen efforts to monitor and improve the safety of aquaculture products; providing technical support to help countries conduct environmental impact studies of proposed aquaculture operations and better handle the introduction of non-native exotic fish species by fish farmers; conducting studies on the emerging practice of tuna fattening and its environmental consequences; and performing a case-study based-analysis of the environmental and social impacts of different kinds of aquaculture operations for use in long-term planning by governments.
FAO will also work to improve information sharing between importing and exporting nations and, via the international Codex Alimentarius Commission, to develop international standards for the safety of fish products. In addition, FAO will evaluate various labeling systems being used to certify aquaculture products as safe and environmentally friendly, with a view to encouraging worldwide adoption of a single set of science-based standards. The meeting’s official report will be available on the FAO Fisheries Department website starting in September. For more information visit: http://www.fao.org/fi/NEMS/events/detail_event.asp?event_id=12107