Spain reaffirms its commitment to sustainable, competitive and forward-looking fisheries and aquaculture at the FAO

Spain has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable, competitive and forward-looking fisheries and aquaculture at the opening of the 37th session of the Committee on Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which is being held in Rome.

In her address at the opening session, the Secretary-General for Fisheries, Isabel Artime, highlighted the strategic importance of these activities for Spain, both in terms of their economic impact and their social and cultural significance, as well as their contribution to food security, employment and the cohesion of coastal communities.

Artime has pointed out that the progress made in protecting resources must now translate into stability, predictability and future opportunities for the sector. In this regard, she has argued that environmental sustainability must go hand in hand with economic and social sustainability, so that businesses can plan, invest and compete, and so that future generations can find opportunities to build their professional careers in fisheries and aquaculture.

He therefore emphasised Spain's commitment to the FAO and to international cooperation as an essential tool for tackling challenges which, given their global scale, require coordinated responses.

Among the examples of this collaboration, Artime highlighted Spain's support for the FAO's Puertos Azules initiative, in which the port of Vigo has been involved since its inception, as well as the cooperation carried out through the training vessel and the Intermares fisheries cooperation vessel.

The Secretary-General also wished to pay special tribute to the role of those working in the sector and, in particular, to women fishers and aquaculturists, to coincide with the celebration of the International Year of Women Farmers in 2026.

Non official translation