The meeting was attended by 21 delegates from seven Member countries of RECOFI and representatives from FAO. The workshop achieved three objectives: (i) it created awareness and initiated capacity building through a technical seminar on basic concepts and emerging issues concerning spatial planning for marine capture fisheries and aquaculture; It received feedback from each RECOFI country presentation on the present status of the use of spatially-based planning tools, including case studies, present issues and challenges; (ii) it presented the results and analysis of the RECOFI regional spatial planning for marine capture fisheries and aquaculture questionnaire survey; and (iii) it prepared and finalized a Proposal for a Regional program for Implementing a Strategy on Spatial Planning for Marine Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture in RECOFI Member countries based on the survey outcomes and workshop deliberation and brainstorming.

The workshop achieved four objectives: (i) it created awareness and initiated capacity building through a technical seminar on spatial planning for marine capture fisheries and aquaculture: it received feedback from each RECOFI country presentation on recent and relevant spatial planning projects; (ii) it presented the results and analysis of the "RECOFI Spatial Planning Development Programme for Marine Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture Questionnaire Survey"; (iii) it prepared and finalized a "Proposal for a Spatial Planning Development Programme for Marine Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture" in RECOFI member countries based on the survey outcomes, workshop deliberations and brainstorming; and (iv) it identified potential pilot projects on marine capture fisheries and aquaculture, which were later elaborated in detail by international consultants after the workshop and in consultation with workshop participants.

The 2018 edition of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture emphasizes the sector’s role in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, and measurement of progress towards these goals. It notes the particular contributions of inland and small-scale fisheries, and highlights the importance of rights-based governance for equitable and inclusive development. As in past editions, the publication begins with a global analysis of trends in fisheries and aquaculture production, stocks, processing and use, trade and consumption, based on the latest official statistics, along with a review of the status of the world’s fishing fleets and human engagement and governance in the sector. Topics explored in Parts 2 to 4 include aquatic biodiversity; the ecosystem approach to fisheries and to aquaculture; climate change impacts and responses; the sector’s contribution to food security and human nutrition; and issues related to international trade, consumer protection and sustainable value chains. Global developments in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, selected ocean pollution concerns and FAO’s efforts to improve capture fishery data are also discussed. The issue concludes with the outlook for the sector, including projections to 2030. As always, The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture aims to provide objective, reliable and up-to- date information to a wide audience, including policy-makers, managers, scientists, stakeholders and indeed all those interested in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

This document contains the report of the workshop and the background papers commissioned for the meeting. The report, and in particular the 'Key Points' adopted by the workshop, will serve as basis for further work on developing technical guidelines for the design, implementation and review of MPAs.

This report indicates that climate change will significantly affect the availability and trade of fish products, especially for those countries most dependent on the sector, and calls for effective adaptation and mitigation actions encompassing food production.

The Expert Workshop on Guidelines for Micro-finance, Credit and Insurance for Small-scale Fisheries in Asia was held in Bangkok, Thailand in the period 7-9 May 2019. Rural finance, insurance and fisheries experts from Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Thailand, UK, Canada and the USA met to discuss ways to improve the access to financial services for small-scale fishers in Asia. The workshop aimed to discuss successful finance and insurance programmes in Asia for small-scale fishers, finalize practical guidelines in support of better access to financial services, and design a capacity building programme for increasing the provision of finance and insurance services to small-scale fisheries. The workshop was attended by 32 experts and was organized by the Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA) in close collaboration with FAO. The insurance and credit guidelines prepared will facilitate the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Poverty Eradication and Food Security (SSF Guidelines), as well as contribute towards achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 14. Access to finance and insurance services will enable the small-scale fishers to invest in more responsible fishing operations and technologies, reduce overfishing, contribute to fisheries management and implement climate change adaptation measures. The micro-finance, credit and insurance guidelines for small-scale fisheries have been endorsed by APRACA members in June 2019, and implementation throughout the Asian region is promoted.

The ecosystem approach to aquaculture provides the conceptual guideline to spatial planning and management. This publication describes the three major steps in spatial planning and management, namely, zoning, site selection and design of an aquaculture management area, or AMA. The rationale for and objectives of each step, the ways (methodologies) to implement it, and the means (tools) that are available to enable a methodology are described in a stepwise fashion. Recommendations to practitioner s and policy-makers are provided. A separate policy brief accompanies this paper. The benefits from spatial planning and management are numerous and include higher productivity and returns for investors, and more effective mitigation of environmental, economic and social risks, the details of which are provided in this paper. This publication is organized in two parts. Part one is the “Guidance”; it is the main body of the document and describes the processes and steps for spatial planning, incl uding aquaculture zoning, site selection and area management. Part two of the publication includes six annexes that present key topics, including: (i) binding and non-legally binding international instruments, which set the context for sustainable national aquaculture; (ii) biosecurity zoning; (iii) aquaculture certification and zonal management; (iv) an overview of key tools and models that can be used to facilitate and inform the spatial planning process; (v) case studies from ten countries – Brazil, Chile, China, Indonesia, Mexico, Oman, the Philippines, Turkey, Uganda and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and (vi) a workshop report. The country case studies illustrate key aspects of the implementation of spatial planning and management at the national level, but mostly within local contexts.

The 2020 edition of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture has a particular focus on sustainability. This reflects a number of specific considerations. First, 2020 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (the Code). Second, several Sustainable Development Goal indicators mature in 2020. Third, FAO hosted the International Symposium on Fisheries Sustainability in late 2019, and fourth, 2020 sees the finalization of specific FAO guidelines on sustainable aquaculture growth, and on social sustainability along value chains. While Part 1 retains the format of previous editions, the structure of the rest of the publication has been revised. Part 2 opens with a special section marking the twenty fifth anniversary of the Code. It also focuses on issues coming to the fore, in particular, those related to Sustainable Development Goal 14 and its indicators for which FAO is the “custodian” agency. In addition, Part 2 covers various aspects of fisheries and aquaculture sustainability. The topics discussed range widely, from data and information systems to ocean pollution, product legality, user rights and climate change adaptation. Part 3 now forms the final part of the publication, covering projections and emerging issues such as new technologies and aquaculture biosecurity. It concludes by outlining steps towards a new vision for capture fisheries. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture aims to provide objective, reliable and up-to-date information to a wide audience – policymakers, managers, scientists, stakeholders and indeed everyone interested in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

The FAO Technical Workshop on “Best-practices for the implementation and reporting of SDG indicator 14.4.1 – Percentage of biologically sustainable fish stocks” was held in Rome, Italy, from 21 to 24 November 2017. The purpose of the Workshop was to raise awareness of SDG 14.4.1’s significance and global reporting process, provide technical training to national practitioners on the analytical methods to produce Indicator 14.4.1, and look for examples of datasets and indicators from which best practices can be compiled. It was attended by 12 participants, with specific expertise on fish stock assessment, who contributed in their individual capacities to the discussions and delivered presentations focusing on their country’s fisheries, resource management, stock assessment, and monitoring of resource sustainability. This report summarizes the presentations and main discussions of the Workshop, and provides recommendations for facilitating the work by countries on SDG indicator 14.4.1.