(REF 27208) Sustainable strengthening and safe use of marine and freshwater
Concept Note:
Fish consumption is extremely beneficial to human health because of its high-quality protein, lipids and vitamins. Although fish consumption is recommended, not all species have high commercial value and some are discarded because of their texture and/or flavour. Nevertheless, nowadays there are technologies that can overcome these constraints by changing the sensorial features of the fillet, maintaining the benefits of fish ingestion. Furthermore, aquaculture can play an important role in food security as it has extended the supply of fish to regions and countries with little or no access to this food, often at lower prices, leading to improved nutrition and food security. Moreover, aquaculture can be another source of families’ income. Finally, it is crucial that marine and freshwater resources are ingested in a safe way, avoiding disease.
The aim of this session is to provide updated information on how marine and freshwater resources, especially species that have low market value, can be safely consumed, as well as emphasize the important role of aquaculture to increase food security in developing countries.
This session addresses five of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
a) SDG 2 (ZERO HUNGER) – by suggesting new protein sources and a wider implementation of aquaculture, it will be possible to increase food security;
b) SDG 3 (GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING) – fish is a high-quality food and its consumption can be potentialized by aquaculture;
c) SDG 5 (GENDER EQUALITY) – aquaculture can create employment for women and young people and can have an important impact on women empowering. Women are generally involved in activities such as feeding, pond fertilization or predator control;
d) SDG 6 (CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION) and SDG 15 (LIFE BELOW WATER) – the whole session is dedicated to the sustainable use of marine and freshwater resources.
This session also follows the One health approach, having the goal of improving health by connecting people with their environment by understanding how their natural resources can be explored sustainably. Cooperation between countries and knowledge transfer from researchers to NGOs and local communities is crucial to achieve these goals and increase food security.
Outline of the session:
1. Opening session:
Permanent Representative of Portugal to the United Nations, Ambassador Ana Paula Zacarias
Other cosponsoring Member States or UN agencies (TBC)
Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere, Margarida Saavedra
2. Global importance of using marine and freshwater resources to increase food security:
Ocean Sustainable Farming, the new best idea to feed the world. João Cotrim de Figueiredo, member of the Portuguese Parliament
Importance of blue food in a healthy diet. Narcisa Bandarra, researcher at Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere, Portugal
Valorisation of fish discards and by-products. Carla Pires, researcher at Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere, Portugal
3. Perspectives from Latin America:
Brazil’s actions for the development of sustainable aquaculture. Carolina Mendes Costa, Division Chief of Territorial Articulation and Innovation of Marine Aquaculture Secretary of Aquaculture and Fisheries Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Supply, Brazil
Can seaweed farming help the Aquaculture in Brazil? Leila Hayashi, professor at Santa Catarina Federal University, Brazil
Integrated agri-aquaculture systems to enhance sustainable food production. Maria Célia Portella, researcher at São Paulo State University, Brazil
You want to Monitor Fish Health but can´t get started? Ana Roque, researcher at Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology, Spain
Low-cost alternatives against the acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus in the white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Cristobal Chaidez Quiroz, researcher at Research Centre in Food and development, Mexico
4. Perspectives from Africa:
Food Security efforts of Ethiopia: lessons learned from recent wheat intensification project. Solomon Benor, CEO, Research and Community Engagement Affairs and NCP Coordinator for Horizon Europe Program, Ministry of Education, Ethiopia.
Addressing the food insecurity crisis with science contributing to the national dimension response. Carmen dos Santos, researcher at Namibe University, Angola
Aquaculture: towards the increasing of food security in developing countries. Pedro Pousão-Ferreira, researcher at Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere, Portugal
Community-based aquaculture – a path to sustainable development. Rui Rocha, CEO of Riasearch, Lda. and member of the Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, Portugal
Improving bivalve quality and safety for food consumption in Angola. João Carlos Cardoso, researcher at Algarve Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR- Algarve), Portugal