More than 40 fishing ministers, deputy ministers and CEOs met in Vigo, convened by Arni Mathiesen, deputy director general of FAO Fisheries.
Mathiesen gathered the leaders of Gabon, Cuba, Norway, India, Ecuador and Mauritius and asked them what they had learned, what message they had received and what they wanted governmental and non-governmental organizations to listen to before closing the summit, La Voz de Galicia reported.
In all the replies the words growth and economy were accompanied by “blue”. All were perfectly aware that, with fisheries and aquaculture as the core, the oceans can be a source of wealth provided that their exploitation is performed sustainably.
What aims towards sustainability? Fish for all eternity, as summed up Elisabeth Aspaker, minister of Norway. Or that “the children of our children and the children of our grandchildren” can continue to eat fish, as Pilar Proaño, minister of Ecuador, pointed out.
Because no one can deny that in a few years, not too many, in 2035, there will be billions more people on the planet. Inhabitants that will demand food. And it is important to consider that, after all, fish is food. It is a type of food that apart from offering quality is very healthy and nutritious. To have it is to ensure food security.
So all countries are preparing for a blue revolution, as it was expressed by the minister of India. In some way or another, measures are being taken to ensure a healthy ocean.
No wonder the crystal ball as the programme had promised shown by Mathiesen at the end of the summit was blue and within it, the message written in huge letters read: blue growth. There were small clouds, but surely it will “clear up”.
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