The partnership aims to advance the transfer of technology and capacity development through the South-South Cooperation and promote joint efforts to advance global sustainable fisheries and aquaculture management, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.
“In
fisheries and aquaculture, China is the biggest in almost everything,”
said Árni M. Mathiesen, FAO’s Assistant Director-General for Fisheries
and Aquaculture. “Therefore, it really goes without saying that
cooperation with CAFS is a great asset for FAO.”
Fisheries and aquaculture are said to have the capacity – if supported and developed in a regulated and environmentally sensitive manner – to contribute significantly to improving the lives and livelihoods of communities in developing countries and help them achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Under the accord, FAO and CAFS will facilitate joint seminars and
workshops, information exchange and technology transfers. The partners
aim to support initiatives to promote climate impact mitigation and
adaption and help build the resilience of fishers and others working in
the sector, while strengthening efforts to increase the regulation and
safety of fish products for regional and global trade.
The South-South Cooperation (SSC),
together with Triangular Cooperation, which involves third countries
and other partners, is said to break the traditional dichotomy between
donors and recipients and has reportedly created jobs, supported
infrastructure and promoted trade.
Through this cooperation, FAO
has fielded more than 2,000 experts and technicians to over 80 countries
in Africa, Asia, Latin America, North Africa and elsewhere over the
past 20 years.
Since FAO and China established the SSC Programme in 2009, experts from China are said to have shared their knowledge and technologies with farmers in Africa and Asia to raise agricultural productivity and sustainability in areas such as cereal production, animal husbandry, fisheries and aquaculture.
