July 29, 2008
FAO approves regional project to reduce trash fish dependence
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has approved a regional project involving China, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam to reduce fish farmers' usage of low-value fish as feed, boosting long-term sustainability.
The two-year project stems from the rapid growth of aquaculture sectors in the Asian region, leading to increased concern over long-term sustainability. The use of trash fish as direct feed is considered adverse to sustainability.
The project, supported by the FAO Technical Cooperation Programme, will help the participating countries develop sustainable grouper farming systems.
The project is a result of a recommendation by the 18th Network of Aquacultures Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA) Governing Council Meeting in 2006. It will be led by NACA, together with FAO Aquaculture Management & Conservation Service (FIMA), the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department and the FAO Regional Office in Bangkok.
The project will first launch with a workshop held in Thailand in early September.
