1st FAO NASF Fisheries and Aquaculture Seminar

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Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

I am honoured to have been invited to this part of the North Atlantic Seafood Forum, and would like to say just a few words about the topic of this session, particularly about the EAF Nansen Programme, which of course does not relate to the North Atlantic at all – but rather to the more southern and tropical waters.

First of all, I would like to thank FAO for our close cooperation in the fisheries sector.

FAO’s normative efforts to promote global, sustainable management of fishery resources are particularly significant for Norway. These efforts include FAO’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, agreements on flag state and port state controls, and guidelines for deep-sea fishing and for bycatch management and reduction of discards.

In our view, however, even more attention needs to be directed to fisheries and aquaculture in FAO’s efforts to achieve world food security.

Norway attaches importance to the key role played by FAO in creating a coherent understanding of sustainable management of both marine and land resources, which is also essential to addressing climate-related challenges.

Since 2010, Norway has earmarked voluntary support to a few selected programme areas where, in our view, FAO has particular capability to make a contribution and achieve results in line with Norwegian priorities. This applies in particular to FAO’s work on the impacts of climate change on agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and its efforts to ensure the right to food. Indeed, we would like FAO to be the cornerstone of the global architecture for food security and agriculture.

Norway also considers it important for FAO to strengthen its activities relating to climate change and climate adaptation and the impact on world food security.

FAO should emphasise the importance of adequate nutrition in connection with its food security work and activities relating to food production. It is particularly important in this context to consider fish and marine resources in the light of the world population’s need for protein.

Norway is especially pleased to work in close cooperation FAO on the EAF Nansen Programme, which is the single most important recipient of Norwegian fisheries development assistance.

The Nansen Programme has been in operation since 1975. Environmental and resource surveys and assessments – carried out by the vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen – has been the core activity. Surveys have been conducted in more than 60 countries, mainly in Africa, but also in Asia and Latin America. The main purpose has been the collection of marine data and the mapping and assessment of fish stocks as a basis for sustainable fisheries management. Another important purpose is training local research personnel, both onboard and through competence-building activities in the respective research institutes.

The long-term objective of the programme is self-sufficient research and management in partner countries, through the development and strengthening of their institutions.

The implementation of the ecosystem approach to fisheries by 2010, as a necessary framework for achieving sustainable ecosystem use, is a challenge worldwide. The basic principles of the ecosystem approach to fisheries are embedded in the UN Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and, for this reason, elements relevant to this new approach are included in the EAF Nansen Programme.

The vessel itself, Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, is now close to 20 years old and – we are aware – is no longer sufficient. Norway is therefore looking into the possibility of replacing this vessel with a new and more modern one.

The reason why we put such emphasis on this programme and this vessel is that we know from many years’ experience that this is the kind of development cooperation that works. I had a meeting two days ago with some of the distinguished representatives present here, and the message I received was clear. This is the kind of cooperation that gives necessary, useful and concrete results, which is what we all want.

It was also emphasised in the meeting that climate change, and the environmental impacts it causes, is of great concern to African coastal and island states. It is therefore crucial that the EAF Nansen Programme provides scientific evidence of these impacts, and thus a sound basis for making the right decisions. Together with the efforts done by partner countries, this is an important contribution towards sustainable development.

Thank you.