By Zoila Palma: The Government of Belize, through the Ministry of Blue Economy and Marine Conservation (MBEMC), participated in the 37th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Committee on Fisheries (COFI 37), held in Rome, Italy, from September 7 to 11, 2026.
The session brought together 107 Committee Members to discuss global priorities for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, food security, ocean governance and the resilience of coastal communities.
Belize was represented by Minister of Blue Economy and Marine Conservation Andre Perez, along with Dr. Abel Carrias, Regional Director of OSPESCA.
COFI welcomed the 2026 State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture report and highlighted the importance of aquatic foods to nutrition, employment and livelihoods. The Committee also raised concerns over the sustainability of global marine fish stocks, noting that only 62.4 percent are currently being fished at biologically sustainable levels, and called for stronger science-based fisheries management and improved data collection.
During the meeting, Minister Perez met with FAO Assistant Director-General and Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, Dr. Manuel Barange, to discuss fisheries priorities and challenges affecting Belize and the wider region. The discussions emphasized the importance of continued technical cooperation and capacity-building for developing countries.
The outcomes of COFI 37 support Belize’s efforts to strengthen fisheries monitoring, transparency and compliance, including measures to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
The post Belize reaffirms Blue Economy priorities at FAO Fisheries Meeting appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: The Government of Belize, through the Ministry of Blue Economy and Marine Conservation (MBEMC), participated in the 37th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Committee on Fisheries (COFI 37), held in Rome, Italy, from September 7 to 11, 2026. The session brought together 107 Committee Members
The post Belize reaffirms Blue Economy priorities at FAO Fisheries Meeting appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
