2022 will be the International Year of Artisanal Fishing and Aquaculture

The UN General Assembly has declared 2022 the International Year of Artisanal Fishing and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022), an opportunity to give visibility and support to a key sector in the process of reaching several of the objectives under the Agenda for Sustainable Development (Agenda 2030). The reasons of that choice highlight how small-scale artisanal fishers, fish farmers and fish workers contribute to human well-being, healthy agri-food systems and poverty eradication through the responsible and sustainable use of fisheries and aquaculture resources.

A vision of the small-scale fisheries sector which, in the words of Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) Director-General QU Dongyu, underpins how the Year is aligned with FAO's '4 Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all – leaving no one behind.' A recent FAO WorldFish study indicates that the small-scale sector may account for the bulk of production considering that about 80 percent of the world's aquaculture production comes from developing countries, with the number of artisanal farmers being much higher than those employed at farm level in medium- and large-scale aquaculture.

"Pordenone Fiere with Aquafarm, International conference & trade show on aquaculture, algaculture and fishing industry, is proud to be a supporter of the International Year of Artisanal Fishing and Aquaculture 2022 (IYAFA 2022 Supporters)' - declares Renato Pujatti, president of Pordenone Fiere together with Pier Antonio Salvador, president of API Associazione Piscicoltori Italiani (Italian Fish Farmers Association) – 'and we are committed to communicating the importance of small-scale fisheries and aquaculture for the sustainable development of food systems and environmental protection.' This is precisely one of the key themes of AquaFarm, one of the most important events on the Pordenone Fiere calendar and an essential event for operators in the aquaculture supply chain; the fifth edition will be held on February 16 and 17, 2022 with a day entirely dedicated to a conference program, on February 18 (Special Conference Day).

This is a fast-growing event that in the last edition has reached numbers that make it one of the leading European trade shows in the sector: 122 exhibitors (35% from abroad), over 2,500 visitors from 43 countries around the world and a calendar of meetings of highest scientific value that will reach its peak in the 2022 edition with the seminar dedicated to IYAFA 2022 scheduled for February 18, 2022. There will be speeches by members of FAO, international experts in the sector and the testimony of entrepreneurs of micro and small aquaculture companies in Italy and abroad. Precisely in order to give the widest communication and enhancement to the themes of small-scale fisheries and aquaculture, AquaFarm 2022 presents its first out-of-show 'Aquafarm In The City': an intense program of workshops, show-cooking, tastings, cooking classes dedicated to children, live streaming directly from the fair. During five days, the world of AquaFarm will involve the entire city of Pordenone to promote knowledge of aquaculture products and food education with a view to environmental sustainability.

For more information about the event visit the Aqua Farm website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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