FAO COFI SUB COMMITTEE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: India has been elected as the First Vice Chair of the Food and Agriculture Organization FAO COFI Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management. 

Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management

• About: It is a forum for discussing fisheries management issues at national, regional and global levels.

oIt deals with technical and policy matters in line with FAO's mission, and actively collaborates with relevant regional and international organizations, countries, stakeholder groups, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), forging new collaborations where needed.

• Establishment: During the Thirty-Fifth session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI).
• Membership: It is open to all Member Nations of the Organization.
• Observers: Entities and registered COFI observers can join the Sub-Committee.
• Functions

oTo provide essential technical and policy guidance on fisheries governance and management, with the aim of advancing the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

oIt identifies significant global issues and trends in fisheries management and sustainable development that require urgent measures, offering guidance and recommendations for addressing them.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO):

• About: It is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Its sister bodies are the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
• Formation: 16th October, 1945.
• Headquarter: Rome (Italy).
• Goal: To achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. 
• Members: 195 members - 194 countries and the European union
• World Food Day: Celebrated every year on 16th October.