(NEWS) UN Interagency Seminar on Fishing and Sustainable Development

June

2016

UN Interagency Seminar on Fishing and Sustainable Development

On 23 and 24 May, a multidisciplinary seminar entitled Fishing and Sustainable Development – the UN Approach, was delivered to MSc students of the World Maritime University at its headquarters in Malmö, Sweden. Representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (IOC-UNESCO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) participated in the seminar that presented the economic, social, and environmental dimensions relating to sustainable fishing.

“This interagency seminar presented a unique opportunity for our students, and the participating organizations, to discuss the challenges of sustainable fishing as well as to strengthen interagency cooperation. The speakers, within the scope of their organization’s mandate, addressed the interrelated aspects of sustainable fishing, the challenges and opportunities facing the fishing industry, and the relevant applicable international instruments. The seminar also contributed to raising awareness of and building capacity to implement Goal 14 of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda which concerns the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and maritime resources for sustainable development,” stated Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, WMU President.

Ari Gudmundsson, Senior Fishery Industry Officer of the FAO discussed the major challenges of world fisheries, combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, traceability and eco-labeling considerations, fishing vessel distribution by type and size as well as small vessel safety and design/energy efficiency. Brandt Wagner, Head, Transport & Maritime Unit, Sectoral Policies Department at the ILO, addressed social and labour issues related to fishing, including the Work in Fishing Convention, 2008 (No.188), child labour, migrant labour and occupational safety and health. Julian Barbière, Head, Marine Policy and Regional Coordination Section and Alejandro Iglesia, Programme Specialist, Marine Policy and Regional Coordination Section of the IOC-UNESCO, addressed marine governance and science, marine spatial planning, integration of fishing management, and the present pressures on oceans such as acidification, global warming, pollution and overfishing.

The participants in the seminar, as well as the representatives of each organization, appreciated the multi-agency and multi-disciplinary approach to this important subject. WMU welcomed the intention to continue and enhance this collaboration.

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