FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI)

The FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI), Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management, appointed India for the first time in 59 years as the first vice-chair. This marks a significant milestone for India’s role in global fisheries management.

About the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI):

• The FAO COFI is an intergovernmental forum that aims to address international fishing and aquaculture issues, providing policy guidance for sustainable fisheries management.
• It was established in 1965 by the Food and Agriculture Organization.
• It consists of member countries, both from within and outside the United Nations.
• It holds regular biennial sessions to discuss and negotiate international policies related to fisheries and aquaculture.
• These sessions provide a platform for member countries to collaborate, share information, and address common challenges.
• It was instrumental in developing the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, adopted in 1995.
  • The Code provides a set of principles and standards to guide member countries in ensuring sustainable fisheries and aquaculture practices.

Key functions:

• It supports capacity-building initiatives to enhance the capabilities of member countries in managing their fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
• It serves as a platform for member countries to exchange knowledge, experiences, and best practices in the field of fisheries and aquaculture.
• It provides policy guidance on fisheries management, recognizing global challenges, and promoting collective solutions.
• It recommends actions to the FAO Council or its Director-General.

Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management

• It was formed in 2022 during the 35th session of COFI in Rome.
• It works closely with other COFI sub-committees- Sub-Committee on Aquaculture and Sub-Committee on Fish Trade.

Other key facts:

• India is one of the top fishing nations with over 28 million inland and marine fisheries.

Ref: Source