The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) awarded the Organization of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector of Central America (Ospesca) a distinction for its actions intended to promote sustainable and responsible fishing.
This specialized institution of the Central American Integration System (SICA) was awarded the ‘Margarita Lizarraga Medal’ during the 38th FAO Conference held in Rome (Italy).
In 1995, FAO launched the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, a tool for guidance to ensure that the world makes sustainable use of fisheries and aquaculture resources. It also devised a biennial recognition for those individuals or institutions that are characterized by the implementation of the provisions of the Code.
Ospesca was created in 1995 by Central American Fisheries authorities, and in 1999 it became institutionalized in the General Secretariat of the Central American Integration System (SG-SICA).
“Ospesca has been selected for this award in recognition of its significant contribution to the sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture in Central American countries and is considered an intergovernmental organization model, emulated in other regions due to the catalytic effect of its achievements,” said FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva.
“Ospesca contribution to the implementation of the Code is therefore outstanding, practical, tangible, sustainable, and catalytic as an example to follow in other regions of the world,” he added.
For his part, Juan Daniel Aleman Gurdian, SICA Secretary General, pointed out: “Ospesca is an organization that demonstrates the advantages of working in an integrated manner, promoting the responsible use of the fishery resources of both oceans, characterized by having commercial high value, currently generating jobs, income and high quality protein for the Central American population.”
Therefore, he stressed the importance of “managing them in a coordinated responsible way.”
Aleman Gurdian also congratulated the ministers of fisheries and aquaculture activities, other Central American fisheries authorities forming part of Ospesca, national and regional industrial unions and artisanal fishermen and farmers, and international cooperation.
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