MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina hosts FAO summit on fish and seafood trade

The international trade in fish and fishery products is valued at 102 billion USD

The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) are convening an international meeting on trade in fish and seafood to be hosted by in the Argentine government Buenos Aires 26-30 April.

The twelfth session of the FAO Sub-Committee on Fish Trade will bring together expert representatives from over 60 governments in discussions on a range of issues related to the international trade in fish and fishery products, valued at 102 billion USD annually.

A number of international and non-governmental organizations and agencies will also participate.

The agenda includes among other issues: global trends in trade in fish and seafood; traceability, certification and eco-labeling; market access requirements for imports; fish trade as an engine for development and improving food security.

Several FAO-authored reports on the current state of and trends in the international fisheries sector will serve as starting points for discussion.

The Sub-Committee is an ancillary advisory body of FAO Committee on Fisheries, which meets every two years to share information, discuss issues related to the fish trade, make recommendations to FAO regarding the Agency's work and agree upon common policies and strategies for managing international trade in fishery products.

This year's meeting in Argentina represents the first time the Subcommittee meeting has been held outside of Europe and hosted by a G77 nation. The meeting is being chaired by Argentina's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.