Taking place during the final week of Expo 2012 in Yeosu, South Korea under the theme of "The Living Ocean and Coasts" and hosted by FAO and the Organizing Committee of Expo 2012, the two-day meeting of internationally-recognised leaders discussed how our oceans can contribute to solving the world food crisis.
Speakers set the stage by highlighting the positive benefits of fish for nutrition security - particularly for young children and pregnant women. Global fisheries leaders focused on governing fisheries to alleviate hunger. Providing innovative plans and perspectives, they covered a wide range of dimensions related to:
- the role of fish in food and nutrition security, in poverty reduction and in wealth creation
- how to best use technology for meeting increasing food demands
- development and food & nutrition security in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors
- strategies for raising awareness of the many contributions of fisheries and aquaculture.
Attended by some 300 participants, the discussions confirmed that fish can make a difference: fisheries and aquaculture have a vital role to play in securing global well-being and livelihoods - especially for small-island states as well as for the millions of small-scale fishers dependent on them.
Panelists also emphasised that continued and future growth must be accompanied by sound, responsible and sustainable development across the board and with a wide range of actors to ensure that our next generations can reap the riches and benefits of fisheries and aquaculture resources.
