Eco-labelling of fishery products. There is increasing support and concern for eco-labelling of products from natural resources. It has been proposed that fishery products could apply for certification that they come from sustainably managed fisheries and production systems, both in terms of the resource and its environment. Currently, few eco-labelling schemes for fish are in operation, though it seems evident that over the near to medium term this practice will become common in higher income markets for fish. Maintenance of biodiversity in capture fisheries and aquaculture and the assessment of the use of genetically modified organisms in aquaculture.
Biodiversity is an essential consideration for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.
However, it is being threatened by factors within the fisheries sector, such as overfishing, destructive fishing practices, introduction of alien species, and by external factors such as habitat loss and degradation mainly caused by land-based activities. Furthermore, genetic biotechnologies have provided significant increases in aquaculture production, but may also threaten wild genetic resources if not developed in a responsible manner. The Fisheries Department, in collaboration with its Members, non-governmental organizations, professional geneticists, and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research will undertake evaluations of new technologies in light of traditional ones, reviews of genetic impacts of fishing and aquaculture, procedures on risk assessment, and projects on using genetic technologies for responsible fisheries. This approach of combining efforts on emerging as well as on-going issues in the work programme reflects the Department s flexible, responsive and dynamic role in meeting priority fisheries and aquaculture problems as they arise. Work will involve the prevention of habitat degradation and rehabilitation of inland fish habitats, intensification of freshwater aquaculture production, best practices in shrimp culture, application of the precautionary approach, seed production, transboundary species movements, genetic improvement technologies and evaluation of economic losses, indicators for aquaculture sustainability, and information systems.