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Turkey organizes multiple events to commemorate IYAFA 2022
by Eurofish
Small-scale fisheries play an important role in society
On 19 November 2021, the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA) was officially launched. IYAFA is an opportunity to showcase the potential and diversity of small-scale fisheries and aquaculture, and to facilitate partnerships within and outside the sector to make it more resilient
On 23 February 2022, 45 participants from 17 different regions in Turkey, in cooperation with the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, WWF-Turkey, Sürkoop (Central Union of Fisheries Cooperatives), and the FAO, came together to express their views on the purpose and effectiveness of the IYAFA platform.
IYAFA has made progress in some areas
Haydar Fersoy, Senior Fisheries and Aquaculture Officer, FAO Subregional Office for Central Asia, emphasised the importance of small-scale aquaculture, and said that IYAFA 2022 had increased global focus on small-scale fisheries. He noted that IYAFA had not contributed to the development of partnerships and cooperation among all stakeholders to the extent that was originally expected. At the meeting, WWF reported that small-scale fisheries create value for local development due to the lower negative impact on the marine ecosystem, the high diversity of opportunities such as fishing tourism, and the increased role of fisherwomen. Drawing attention to the value of protected areas for our future, the representative from Sürkoop said that preventing overfishing means saving both small and large fisheries and urged participants to “hear the cry of the fish”.
UN IYAFA launch meeting held in Mu la Province, Turkey on 24-25 March 2022
In his speech at the meeting, Dr Mustafa Altug Atalay, General Director for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Turkish Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry, said that the Turkish aquaculture sector made a significant contribution to human well-being, by providing access to safe, healthful, and sustainably produced food from aquatic resources, and that it also plays an important role in reducing poverty in rural areas. He aimed to draw attention to all the people working in the fishery sector by building awareness on the importance of aquaculture and fisheries.
Viorel Gutu, Subregional Coordinator for Central Asia, noted that FAO is the leading organizer of IYAFA 2022 events, and said that FAO supports the common welfare of humanity, the creation of healthy food systems, and that it contributes to the fight against poverty by amplifying traditional fisheries and aquaculture production. Mr Gutu stated that as part of the campaign FAO will work to raise awareness about the importance of traditional fisheries and aquaculture. It will also strengthen the industry’s science-policy interface. And finally, it aims to strengthen partnerships with stakeholders in the sector through activities carried out during the year.
In order to raise public awareness about IYAFA 2022 within the region, a workshop was held in Antalya and another in Isparta on 15-16 June for planning and policy development surrounding increasing aquaculture production in Central Asia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey. The events were held as a result of collaborations between Akdeniz University, Mediterranean Fisheries Research, the Production and Training Institute, and Isparta University of Applied Sciences.
The first event was carried out in cooperation with Akdeniz University, Mediterranean Fisheries Research, Production and Training Institute (MEDFRI), and the FAO. The event was held on the Akdeniz University campus on 15 June 2022 and focused on local challenges and approaches in fisheries and aquaculture in Antalya and neighbouring provinces. The event was aimed at small-scale fish farmers, fishermen, fish farmers and other local actors in the fisheries and aquaculture value chain. The second event was held at Isparta University of Applied Sciences on June 16, 2022, in cooperation with the FAO.
