In April 2013, the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) recognized the need to conduct a worldwide survey of the existence and use of aquatic genetic resources for food and agriculture (AqGR). The project "Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture - Contribution towards the First State of the World Report (SoW-AqGR)" supported the preparation of the State of the World’s Aquatic Genetic Resources at FAO. As part of the project, in addition to conducting regional workshops and producing five background studies, the FAO website on AqGR was substantially redesigned and translated into all official United Nations languages. The SoW AqGR was completed in 2019 and includes the description of the status and a global assessment of the conservation, sustainable use and development of AqGR. The focus was specifically on aquatic species farmed in aquaculture as well as their native species found in the wild. Overall, the Sow-AqGR, based on 92 country reports, emphasizes the need to conserve aquatic diversity in their natural habitats and to implement breeding programs in the aquaculture sector to develop aquatic genetic resources. The well-prepared results of the project are accessible to all interested parties through the website of FAO.
Project duration: 15.12.2014 - 31.03.2019
More information on aquatic genetic resources