SEAFDEC Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center
A representative from the SEAFDEC Secretariat, Ms. Nualanong Tongdee, participated as an observer in the “Fifth Session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture” organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) at its Headquarters from 18 to 20 September 2024. Attended by the Intergovernmental Working Group (ITWG) members from different regions, including the Southeast Asian region represented by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines, the Session provided updates on the progress made by FAO in the implementation of the Global Plan of Action on Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (AqGR), including the development of relevant new guidelines, i.e. the Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture (GSA); draft Guidelines for Genetic Management of Stocking Programmes for Aquatic Species; and draft Practical Guide for ex-situ in vitro gene banking of aquatic genetic resource for food and agriculture. The Session also noted the proposed indicators for monitoring the implementation of the Global Plan of Action, i.e. sets of resource indicators and process indicators, where countries would be requested to update the information every two and five years, respectively, to contribute to the preparation of the Second Report on the State of the World’s Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in 2029. Moreover, the requirements from countries were also raised at the Session, including continued capacity building on AquaGRIS as well as enhancing the understanding and implementation of the relevant guidelines once adopted in the future.
Prior to the ITWG Session, FAO organized an event to launch the AquaGRIS on 17 September 2024. AquaGRIS is a tool through which countries, on a voluntary basis, will regularly report to FAO the information on the aquatic genetic resources for food and agriculture or AqGR within their national jurisdictions. At this event, Ms. Nualanong presented the development program for creation of national registries of aquatic biodiversity implemented in 2024 under the Letter of Agreement (LoA) between FAO and SEAFDEC for the provision of “Support for strengthening regional capacity to monitor the status of management of aquatic genetic resources.” Highlighted in her presentation was the capacity-building workshop for the SEAFDEC Member Countries, including the post-workshop activity that enabled the countries to create their national registries in AquaGRIS as well as consider the lessons learned from the activities.
The end of September 2024 also marked the completion of the post-workshop activities under the LoA between FAO and SEAFDEC. Through the support extended by the regional AqGR expert after the workshop held in June until mid-September 2024, the participating countries in the region could create 72 new national registries.
