The Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture (GSA) were prepared at the request of Members in an inclusive, transparent and participatory manner under the guidance of the Sub-Committee on Aquaculture of the FAO Committee on Fisheries. Members urged FAO to lead the crafting of the GSA in response to the rapid expansion of aquaculture, the fastest-growing food production sector in the world, driven by scientific progress, technological innovations and investment, amid a consistently increasing global demand for aquatic foods. However, as with all food production sectors, this rapid growth has exposed challenges to the sustainability of aquaculture and raised concerns about potential negative impacts. The GSA provide a comprehensive framework for addressing these challenges.
The GSA consist of three sections: A) vision, objectives, scope and guiding principles, B) guidelines for promoting sustainable aquaculture; and C) implementation and monitoring. In line with the FAO Blue Transformation roadmap, which has a major pillar dedicated to the sustainable intensification and expansion of aquaculture, the GSA envision an aquaculture sector that contributes significantly to food security and to the equitable improvement of the living standards of all actors in its value chain, including the most vulnerable. To achieve these goals, collaboration among States and stakeholders is crucial, and States are encouraged to facilitate the use of national-level platforms to implement the GSA.
Key words: aquaculture, guidelines, governance, and collaboration.