Aquaculture has an important role to play in global efforts to eliminate hunger and malnutrition and make significant contributions to poverty reduction and economic growth. The main challenge for policy makers and development agents is to create an “enabling environment” to support the expansion needed to meet this potential.
Considering all these elements, FAO will organize a High Level Special Event to take place on Monday, 19 November at FAO headquarters. The Meeting will address “the role of aquaculture in sustainable development” in a broad sense. This would include considerations for contribution to economic development (food security, employment, and economic growth), governance (policy and regulatory frameworks), human and institutional capacity, environmental aspects, etc.
The Special Event will be attended by ministers and delegates to the 34th FAO Conference (7-24 November 2007). The President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka will deliver a Keynote Speech.
Building on the decisions and recommendation of the third session of the Sub-Committee on Aquaculture which reaffirmed its trust in FAO to play a coordinating role in advancing the global aquaculture agenda and the outcomes of the 27th Session of the Committee on Fisheries as well, the Special Event will enable member countries to exchange views on their various experiences within the framework of a high-level forum, and to provide a valid contribution to the international public debate on this issue.
