Fisheries resource utilization and aquaculture production are sectors where Norway possesses unique basic knowledge. Even though there has been and are challenges, Norway is no doubt regarded as among the world-leaders in managing its aquatic resources. Managed and developed properly, the fisheries sectors worldwide could provide far greater contribution both in terms of local food supply, export earnings and employment. As one sees few opportunities to sustainably increase yield in the world's fisheries, future increase in access to aquatic resources, needs to come from improved management of the fisheries. In addition, increased future food supply might come from aquaculture production. Norwegian experience in fisheries management and aquaculture could potentially be a source for important knowledge transfer to developing countries that want to develop sustainable food supplies and profitable industries.

Beside the issues related directly to living aquatic resources, development cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture can also support additional associated activities and other initiatives. The use of the research vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen in investigating environmental measurements such as seabed mapping and examination of seabed conditions in southern waters are examples of this. In addition, aquaculture in rivers and lakes might be supplements to the Norwegian government efforts towards supporting maintenance of rainforest through alternative employment.

 

The Norwegian Fishery Forum for Development Cooperation (FFF) has for several years discussed how Norway should exploit the comparative advantage in the aquatic sector in development terms. Norway is in many respects a nation to be recognized within different areas of marine and freshwater research, management and development, and as FFF sees it, this should be reflected in the development cooperation budget with greater effort in fisheries and aquaculture. This view has gained momentum in the latter years, shown through the planning of building a new Research Vessel (Dr. Fridtjof Nansen 3) and an outspoken goal to increase the focus on fisheries and aquaculture in Norwegian development cooperation.

 

At the 2014 annual meeting, FFF wants to focus on future assistance in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, including climate and environmental challenges with Norway as a global actor. FFF invites to a seminar on the theme: Aquatic resources and food for the future in Oslo, 26 and 27 August 2014. First day of the seminar will focus on the present experience and activities, presented by Norwegian institutions involved in such activities. The second day of the seminar will present Future focus and challenges. Emphasis will be put on the release of the book “Governance for fisheries & marine conservation; Interactions and co-evolution” (Publisher Wiley-Blackwell, UK), and form the basis for discussions on future focus and challenges.

 

26 August (11:00 – 16:00): Past experience and present activities in development cooperation

11:00 – 11:10 Welcome

Invited presentation:
11:10 – 11:30: Bjørn Hersoug (UiT, Norway): Past experience and lessons
11:30 – 11:50: Brit Fisknes (NORAD, Norway): Past and present roles and policy
11:50 – 12:10: Hilkka Ndjaula (Namibia): Education in Norway and the significance for Namibia
12:15 – 13:15: Lunch
13:15 – 13:45: Sandy Davies (NFDS, Botswana): Evaluation of the education program “BSc Fisheries and Aquatic Science for the SADC Region”
13:45 – 14:05: Pedro Barros (FAO): Norwegian educational collaboration: teaching at home or in Norway 

Contributing presentation:
14:15 – 14:35: Kathrine Tveiterås (Norway): Norwegian College of Fishery Science:  Experiences with courses and long term education programs. Future strategies.
14:35 – 15:05: Edgar Brun (Norway): Aspects of aquatic animal health management 
15:05 – 15:30: Coffee break
15:50 – 16:00: Roar Solbakken (Norway): Environmental Impact Assessment of phosphate mining off the Namibian coast – A Pilot Study 

19:00 –  Seminar dinner
 

27 August (09:00-16:00): Future focus and challenges

09:00 – 09:30 Serge Garcia (Italy): Presentation of the book "Governance for fisheries and Marine Conservation" 
09:30 – 10:00 Tony Charles (Canada): Governance dimensions 
10:00 – 10:30 Coffee break
10:30 – 11:00 Peter Gullestad (Norway): Towards an Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management 
11:00 – 11:30 Jeppe Kolding (Norway): Governance and conservation in small-scale fisheries 
11:30 – 12:00 Cathrine Martens (Norway): Future challenges 
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 13:30 Jake Rice (Canada): Introduction to panel discussion – Main point developed in the book and indicate the main avenues with relevance to development cooperation 
13:30 – 15:00 Panel discussion: Identifying topics that are of great importance for fisheries (marine and freshwater) in developing countries and possible way forward and indicate the main avenues with relevance to development cooperation.
14:00 – 14:30 Coffee