As part of the Marine Ingredients Industry’s commitment to contributing to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, I am proud to announce that IFFO and the Global Aquaculture Alliance have just released the findings of a project on the South East Asian fishmeal industry. Through this study and the author’s main recommendations, IFFO helps fill information gaps, in particular in Thailand and Vietnam, and supports the development of best practices in fisheries management.
The report highlights the fishery management plans set up by the government of Thailand. However, IFFO is keen to see some further positive change and firmly believe that Fishery improvement Projects (FIPs) should be encouraged as the key mechanism to support the implementation of management plans.
Collaboration and proactivity, rather than biased campaigns based on misinterpreted data, are essential to tackle the existing challenges in the responsible sourcing of material for fishmeal and fish oil production, although as a reflection of the total volume of supply, these are minor.
IFFO remains committed to facilitating the process for fisheries to engage in improvement processes, sharing knowledge with its Members and all the relevant stakeholders and developing further research to maintain an evidence-based approach.
Members will meet in Madrid on May 3-4. We reached another record with 163 delegates registered from 27 countries. I look forward to seeing all of you very soon!
Petter Martin Johannessen
Director General
This month's newsletter covered the following topics: