IYAFA PACIFIC 2022

The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2022 the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022). FAO is the lead agency for celebrating the Year in collaboration with other relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system. IYAFA 2022 is an important recognition of the millions of small-scale fishers, fish farmers and fish workers who provide healthy and nutritious food to billions of people and contribute to achieving Zero Hunger.


The objective of celebrating IYAFA 2022 is twofold: the Year aims to focus world attention on the role that small-scale fishers, fish farmers and fish workers play in food security and nutrition, poverty eradication and sustainable natural resource use – thereby increasing global understanding and action to support them.

The celebration is also an opportunity to enhance dialogue between different actors, and not least to strengthen small-scale producers to partner up with one another and make their voices heard so they can influence the decisions and policies that shape their everyday lives – all the way from local community level to international and global fora. IYAFA 2022 will be an opportunity to showcase the potential of small-scale fisheries and aquaculture and point to the benefits which can be gained from strengthening this small-scale sector.

Inshore fisheries provide the primary or secondary source of income for up to fifty per cent of households in the Pacific region. Amongst rural populations, 50–90% of the animal-sourced protein consumed comes from fish. At the national level, coastal fisheries carry significant cultural and economic value. They are estimated to contribute 49% of the total fisheries contribution to GDP, demonstrating that they are central to the Pacific way of life. 88% of households consume fish or seafood weekly among 13 Pacific islands countries and territories (PICTs) and 58% of fresh fish is consumed per person, per annum. Fish is very important, now more than ever with the COVID-19 pandemic which impacts household revenues and food security.

The FAO Subregional Office for the Pacific islands, the Pacific Community (SPC) and INFOFISH are joining efforts to celebrate the IYAFA 2022 by producing and sharing fisher’s testimonies and stories as well as implementing awareness activities on sustainable fisheries management.

Landing page: https://infofish.org/Webinar/index.ph...