July 16, 2024

US' NOAA highlights need for sustainable aquaculture with FAO-endorsed guidelines

The Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture endorsed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) aim to develop global aquaculture best practices, said the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in a press release on July 12.

NOAA has helped inform the new guidelines, with its experts working to ensure the needs of North American aquaculture sectors were represented in the guidelines while balancing the needs of countries worldwide.

NOAA noted that, as with all forms of agriculture, the rapid growth of aquaculture has exposed challenges for environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Guidelines are therefore needed to ensure aquaculture grows sustainably.

The Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture addresses the aforementioned challenges by outlining a plan that benefits people, the ocean, and coastal economies.

The authors of the guidelines envision an aquaculture sector that contributes to the fight against global hunger, lifts economies and the living standards of seafood farmers globally, and bolsters resilience to climate change.

- NOAA Fisheries