From Ocean to Plate

In fact, more and more consumers are interested in the origins of their fish and their food in general. Knowing that the fish comes from the zone closest to you assures a certain quality and freshness.

“There is a very big difference between the fish caught by our fishermen and the frozen fish coming from other FAO areas,” explains Antonio Di Salvatore, owner of FAO 37. “If I don’t find a variety of fresh fish in the local market (because of bad weather that prevents fishermen for going out for example), I don’t replace it with frozen fish.”

Increasingly, people are not just interested in the quality and freshness of the fish, but also in its sustainability. Fishing areas help track that the seafood being sold originates from sustainable resources and has been fished legally.

Fishing areas ensure traceability: both for the sake of quality and safety (ensuring that the cold chain hasn’t been broken, for example), but also to track that the fish is legal, i.e. comes from licensed fishery, that quotas and other fishing regulations have been respected and that both exporters and importers are following the rules.

“FAO fishing areas is a thorough system which really allows the consumer to make an informed decision,” says Ruggero Urbani, Veterinarian and Fish Inspector from the Italian Health Agency.

Fighting illegal fishing is a critical part of ensuring sustainability, keeping our ocean ecosystems healthy and preserving fish resources for future generations. FAO is a strong advocate on this topic and has helped create the Port State Measures Agreement, the first ever legally binding international agreement against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Estimates suggest that about one in every five fish caught around the world every year comes from IUU fishing, translating into a total annual value of up to USD 23 billion. For the 59.6 million people around the world who depend on fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihoods, this can be detrimental.

FAO fishing areas help the international community ensure that resources are used sustainably and that consumers can make educated choices.

Fish in an important part of a healthy diet. It provides an essential source of protein for millions of people around the globe.

For some fishing communities, it is their primary source of food and these marine resources are necessary for their food security. Illegal fishing can threaten this food security, both by taking away these sources, but also by undermining the livelihoods of the millions of people worldwide who rely on this income to meet their needs.

To make sure that fish and seafood resources remain available, not just for those of us on the planet now, but also for future generations, we must ensure that we use these resources sustainably. This will keep us on track for a food secure, #ZeroHunger future.

Learn More

• Map: FAO Major Fishing Areas
• Website: Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing
• Podcast: TZH 46 – How do you tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing?

*SOURCE: FAO. Go to ORIGINAL. 2019 Human Wrongs Watch