Iván López van der Veen has been re-elected president of the International Coalition of Fisheries Associations (ICFA), for a second consecutive term.
The appointment of Iván López was unanimously approved by all members of ICFA, which brings together fishing associations from 28 countries across five continents.
He begins his second year in office at ICFA by increasing the commitment to the sustainable use of marine resources for their contribution to global food security and to science-based fisheries conservation and management practices.
‘It is an honor that my colleagues, members of the Coalition, have appointed me again to preside over it. I assume the position reiterating ICFA’s commitment to the global fishing sector and determined to continue working as a team for the sustainable future of our activity in its three aspects: environmental, social and economic,’ to Iván López said.
The re-election took place during the ICFA General Assembly meeting in Rome, where the main challenges facing the fisheries sector globally were discussed. The meeting addressed, among other issues, the importance of combating illegal fishing , strategies and next steps for implementing the BBNJ Agreement (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction), promoting demersal fishing through innovation in gear and best practices, human capital in fishing, fleet decarbonisation, and the nutritional value of fish and shellfish.
In this regard, ICFA members presented the Seafood Nutrition Toolkit to FAO representatives. This toolkit is designed to unite the global fishing community in promoting the health benefits of seafood products and combating misinformation and fake news. The meeting with FAO representatives also touched on international issues of interest, such as the BBNJ Agreement, the demonisation of fishing gears, and the challenges of international trade.
Iván López holds a degree in international affairs and economics, has 25 years of experience in the fishing sector, and has expertise in South America, Africa, and Europe in both the harvesting and processing of fish. He is general manager of Vigo-based Pesquera Ancora. He is also president of the National Association of Cod Fishermen (Agarba), of the European Union’s Long Distance Advisory Council and the European Bottom Fishing Alliance (EBFA), as well as being a member of the Board of Directors of Europêche and vice-president of Spanish industry federation CEPESCA.
