India Elected as Vice-Chair of UN FAO Committee on Fisheries

Utkarsh Classes Last Updated 20-01-2024

India Elected as Vice-Chair of UN FAO Committee on Fisheries

International Organisations 4 min read

India has been elected as the Vice-Chair of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Committee on Fisheries (COFI) Management. India's role in this committee as a representative of least developed and developing countries in the field of fisheries and management will determine the direction of the sector.

India will serve as a member of the global Bureau of Fisheries and Management for the first time in 57 years. The Indian Embassy in Italy has given this information.
This will prove especially important in the case of artisanal and small scale fisheries. The embassy also said that India will work as a member of the FAO Fisheries Bureau on ‘Capture Fisheries’ for the first time in 57 years.

Platform for Fisheries Management at Global Level:

The Sub-committee on Fisheries Management is a forum to discuss fisheries management issues at the national, regional and global levels.
The decision comes at a time when many countries are protesting against China's illegal and unregulated fishing practices in international waters. China often violates the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of other countries.
According to an investigative journalism report, between 2019 and 2021, China has violated the EEZ of more than 80 other countries.

About Committee on Fisheries (COFI):

Established in 1965, COFI is an intergovernmental forum that addresses international fishing and aquaculture issues. Provides policy guidance on fisheries management. It identifies the global challenges in the region.
It promotes collective solutions to ensure the environmental, economic and social sustainability of the fishing industry.
The group also makes recommendations to the FAO Council or its Director-General.
The Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management is a new sub-group formed under COFI during the 35th session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI), to be held in Rome in 2022.
It will work closely with two other COFI sub-committees, the Sub-Committee on Aquaculture and the Sub-Committee on Fish Trade.

Fisheries Sector of India:

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

About Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO):

FAO, a UN specialized agency, focuses on global food and agricultural matters. It leads international efforts to prevent hunger.
World Food Day is celebrated every year on 16 October to mark the anniversary of the establishment of FAO in 1945.
Its Headquarters: Rome (Italy).
The current Director General of FAO is Qiu Dongyu.
India is one of the founding members of FAO.